Collection of new specimens of Uncibilocularis from stingrays in Madagascar and Australia allowed for a revision of the genus. Based on their possession of triloculated, rather than biloculated bothridia, 5 species with bipronged hooks currently assigned to Uncibilocularis are transferred to Acanthobothrium. Four new species of Uncibilocularis are described. These are Uncibilocularis loreni n. sp. from Pastinachus cf. sephen in Madagascar, Uncibilocularis okei n. sp. from Pastinachus cf. sephen in Australia, and Uncibilocularis sidocymba n. sp. and Uncibilocularis squireorum n. sp., both from Himantura uarnak also in Australia. These species differ from one another, and from the 7 existing species remaining in the genus, in testis number, total length, bothridial and hook length, terminal proglottid proportions, degree of degeneration of testes in the terminal proglottid, and whether blade-like spiniform microtriches are present on their proximal bothridial surfaces. This brings the total number of species of Uncibilocularis to 11. The 6 species known from India are considered nomina dubia until a description of each is more completely and accurately rendered. The diagnosis of Uncibilocularis is emended.
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1 July 2008
A Revision of Uncibilocularis Southwell, 1925 (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) with the Description of Four New Species
Kirsten Jensen,
Janine N. Caira
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Australia
Himantura
Madagascar
new species
Onchobothriidae
Pastinachus
spiral intestine