Scyphophyllidium garshai n. sp. (Cestoda: Phyllobothriidea) from the Grey Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon oligolinx Springer, 1964, in the Persian Gulf.

PURPOSE: There is a single species in category 3 of the cestode genus Scyphophyllidium that possesses six bothridial facial loculi. For 19 years, this species was believed to parasitize only sharks of the genus Scoliodon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether members of Scyphophyllidium with this unique scolex morphology are also found in another shark genus, Rhizoprionodon.

METHODS

The tapeworms belonging to a new species, isolated from several specimens of Rhizoprionodon oligolinx from the Persian Gulf, were stained, measured, drawn, and described.

RESULTS

Scyphophyllidium garshai n. sp., placed in category 3 of the genus, closely resembles S. latipi, as both possess the unique characteristic of having six bothridial facial loculi, distinguishing them within the genus. It parasitizes Rhizoprionodon oligolinx from the Persian Gulf. The new species differs from S. latipi in quantitative characters such as total length, proglottid number, length of scolex proper, length of anterior loculus, length of symmetrical lateral and medial loculi of triplet, and length of lateral and medial posterior loculi.

CONCLUSION

The description of S. garshai n. sp. from Rhizoprionodon oligolinx confirms that the species of the genus Scyphophyllidium possessing six bothridial facial loculi occur not only in sharks of the genus Scoliodon but also in Rhizoprionodon. The status of the microtriches is discussed. The uniformity in morphology, whether in microstructure or macrostructure, suggests that the two species of the genus with six bothridial facial loculi have the potential to be considered as a separate category within the genus.