Trypanorhyncha (Cestoda) from Endemic Rhinobatos Species (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae) from Bali, Indonesia, with the Description of Two New Species.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the Trypanoryncha fauna of Rhinobatos jimbaranensis Last, White & Fahmi, 2006 and R. penggali Last, White & Fahmi, 2006 from Bali, Indonesia, with respect to their presumed feeding ecology.

METHODS

Twenty-three ray specimens of the family Rhinobatidae were purchased at the Pasar Ikan Tradisional Kedonganan market on the southern coast of Bali, Indonesia, and examined for the trypanorhynchs using standardized methods. Between 2018 and 2021, 12 R. jimbaranensis and 11 R. penggali were examined, both species are endemic to Indonesia.

RESULTS

Twelve trypanorhynchan species were found, 10 in R. jimbaranensis and 8 in R. penggali, including the two new species Prochristianella bicki sp. nov. and Pseudochristianella jimbaranensis sp. nov.. While Dollfusiella spinosa Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2013 Parachristianella indonesiensis Palm, 2004, Pa. monomegacantha Kruse, 1959, Proc. clarkeae Beveridge, 1990, Pseudochristianella jimbaranensis sp. nov., and Trygonicola macropora (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) occurred in both hosts, Dollfusiella hemispinosa Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2013, Dollfusiella sp., Proc. bicki sp. nov., and Proemotobothrium linstowi (Southwell, 1912) were only recorded from R. jimbaranensis, and Dollfusiella michiae (Southwell, 1929) and Kotorelliella jonesi Palm & Beveridge, 2002 were only found in R. penggali. Thirteen new host and eight new locality records are established.

CONCLUSION

Rhinobatos jimbaranensis was infected with Proe. linstowi (Otobothrioidea), a species also infecting teleosts as intermediate hosts. While most recorded trypanorhynchs are transferred into Rhinobatos through the invertebrate hosts, this study suggests that R. jimbaranensis, similar to R. penggali, occasionally feeds on fish.