The genus Aberrapex Jensen, 2001 (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from eagle rays from the southwestern Atlantic

LEONARDO DAMIÁN MUTTI; VERÓNICA ADRIANA IVANOV

Sao Sebastiao

Workshop; VIII Workshop for Cestode Systematic and Phylogeny; 2014

Universidade de São Paulo

Aberrapex Jensen 2001 includes 4 species of lecanicephalid tapeworms, all parasites of myliobatiform batoids. The genus has been reported from the Indo-Pacific, eastern Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. Actually, A. arrhynchum (Brooks, Mayes et Thorson, 1981) is the only record of a Lecanicephalidea in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, described originally as Discobothrium arrhynchum from Myliobatis goodei Garman off Uruguay. During this study two species of Myliobatis Cuvier, M. goodei and M. ridens Ruocco, Lucifora, Díaz de Astarloa, Mabragaña et Delpiani, were caught in different locations along the continental shelf off Argentina, and examined for lecanicephalideans. The cestodes were prepared and observed using light and scanning electron microscopy. As a result, 3 new species of Aberrapex were discovered: 2 species from M. goodei and 1 species from M. ridens, all from different localities. The new species can be distinguished in a combination of characters including worm size and number of proglottids, uterus shape, external seminal vesicle, and number of testes. No specimens of A. arrhynchum were found. Comments on type host identification and eagle rays distribution will be discussed.