“Scotia” Collections. On Echinorhynchus antarcticus. n. sp., and its Allies

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
• Main Author: Rennie, John
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1906
• Subjects: General Engineering; Antarctic; Weddell; Scotia Bay; Antarc*; antarcticus; Leptonychotes weddelli; Weddell Seal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0370164600024688; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0370164600024688

The form described in the present paper was found amongst the contents of the stomach of a Weddell seal ( Leptonychotes weddelli ), taken by the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition in Scotia Bay, South Orkneys. In all about sixty specimens were collected. They occurred unattached amongst material in a semi-fluid condition, so that it is not possible to state definitely whether the seal or some animal upon which it fed is the normal host of this parasite. This question, however, in the case of the Echinorhynchi, appears from the work of de Marval to be one of minor importance. He has shown that in the Echinorhynchi of birds there is a most marked absence of specialisation of hosts, and quotes from other authors various instances of the same parasite occurring in different vertebrate classes. The worms in the present case showed no indication of having been affected by the digestive juices of the seal. As will appear from the description given below, their structural peculiarities suggest relationships with certain forms known to inhabit aquatic birds.