Plicobothrium globicephalae gen. et sp. nov. (Cestoda:Diphyllobothriidae) from the pilot whale, Globicephala melaena Traill, in Newfoundland waters

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Rausch, R. L., Margolis, L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1969
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z69-129; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z69-129

Plicobothrium globicephalae gen. et sp. nov., described from the pilot whale, Globicephala melaena Traill, from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland (eastern Canada), is distinguished by complex folding of the modified bothria of the scolex in combination with other morphological characteristics. Of diphyllobothriid cestodes occurring in marine mammals, those of the monotypic genera Pyramicocephalus Monticelli, 1890, and Baylisiella Markowski, 1952, have modified scolices, but of a different type. P. globicephalae gen. et sp. nov. is further distinguished from these by characteristics of the strobila, arrangement of excretory ducts, and other morphological differences. The taxonomic status of other diphyllobothriid cestodes in marine mammals is briefly discussed.