Helminths of rodents and marsupials from Papua New Guinea, with the description of two new species, Echinostoma echymiperae n. sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) and Vampirolepis peroryctis n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae)

Abstract

The following rodents and marsupials from the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea have been examined for helminths: Anisomys imitator, Melomys spp., Pogonomelomys ruemmleri, Rattus spp., Echymipera kalubu and Peroryctes raffrayanus. Two new species and a number of new host records are reported. Echinostoma echymiperae n. sp., a digenean from the intestine of Echymipera kalubu, is characterised by the number of collar spines, the body armature and the shape and position of the gonads.Vampirolepis peroryctis n. sp., a cestode from the intestine of Peroryctes raffrayanus, is characterised by the length of the rostellar hooks, the shape of the ovary, the arrangement of the testes in a triangle and the extent of the cirrus-sac. Hymenolepis aklei, H. bradleyi, H. antechini, H. bettongiae, H. cercarteti, H. isoodontis and H. potoroi are transferred to Vampirolepis as new combinations. E. kalubu is a new host for Linstowia semoni and Pogonomelomys ruemmleri is a new host for Hymenolepis diminuta. V. peroryctis is the first platyhelminth to be reported from Peroryctes raffrayanus and Raillietina (Raillietina) sp. the second to be reported from the genus Melomys.

First report of Potorolepis Spassky, 1994 (Eucestoda: Hymenolepididae) from China, with description of a new species in bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae)

“…n. represents the first record of this genus in chiropterans and considerably extends distribution area of the genus outside the Australasian region. Previously known geographic range of Potorolepis generally corresponded to the distributions of their definitive hosts in Australia, Tasmania, Aru Islands and New Guinea (Beveridge and Barker 1975, Vaucher et al 1984, Jones and Anderson 1990, Vaucher and Beveridge 1997. Phylogenetic relationships of these tapeworms with other hymenolepidids are not yet established, and thus currently cannot provide further insights into the evolutionary history of this cestode group.…”

“…Later, Vaucher and Beveridge (1997) described two additional species in marsupials from Aru Islands and New Guinea, including P. aruensis Vaucher et Beveridge, 1997 andP. woolleyae Vaucher et Beveridge, 1997; they also transferred P. peroryctis (Jones et anderson, 1990) (syn. : Vampirolepis peroryctis Jones et anderson, 1990) from the same locality to this genus.…”

Raillietina melomyos n. sp. (Cestoda, Davaineidae) from mosaic-tailed rats in Papua New Guinea

“…Animals were collected as described by Jones & Anderson (1990) from lowland and lower montane forest at 1,200 m in the Baiyer River Sanctuary (144°10 t E, 5°35 ' S) in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Three Melomys rufeseens and one Melomys sp.…”

“…harboured specimens of Raillietina. The cestodes recovered were fixed in warm 70% alcohol and processed for identification as described by Jones & Anderson (1990).…”

A New Species of Mathevotaenia (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) and Other Tapeworms From Marsupials in Argentina

“…The Australian species include H. peramelidarum Nybelin, 1917, H. bradleyi Beveridge & Barker, 1975, H. aklei Beveridge & Barker, 1975, H. cercarteti Vaucher et al, 1984, H. antechini Vaucher et al, 1984, H. bettongiae Vaucher et al, 1984, H. isoodontis Vaucher et al, 1984, H. potoroi Vaucher et al, 1984, and H. peroryctis Jones & Anderson, 1990 (see Vaucher et al, 1984). These species were transferred into the genus Vampirolepis Spasskii, 1954 by Jones and Anderson (1990) because of the presence of an armed rostellum. However, Vaucher (1992) rejected this transfer, suggesting that the hymenolepids of marsupials belong in their own genus (p. 301).…”