Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp.nov. and A . arcticensis sp.nov. (Eucestoda: Tetrabothriidae) in ringed seals ( Phoca hispida hispida ) and harp seals ( Phoca groenlandica ) from high-latitude seas of eastern Canada and the Arctic basin

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Hoberg, Eric P., Measures, Lena N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1995
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Canada; Arctic Basin; Phoca groenlandica; Phoca hispida
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z95-005; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z95-005

Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp.nov. and A. arcticensis sp.nov. are described from ringed seals (Phoca hispida hispida) in the eastern Canadian Arctic; the latter species is also reported from harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Anophryocephalus inuitorum is most similar to A. skrjabini, but can be distinguished by fewer testes (14–27) and smaller dimensions of the strobila, neck (3.0–5.9 mm long), and cirrus sac (31–70 μm long), diameter of the genital atrium (44–68 μm), and length of the male canal (23–42 μm long). Anophryocephalus arcticensis resembles A. nunivakensis in the structure of the scolex, but is readily distinguished by a longer neck (8.9–14.7 mm), an elongate cirrus sac (60–98 × 44–73 μm) with a substantially thicker muscular wall, a more globular vitelline gland, and larger embryophores (29–41 μm long) and oncospheres (24–34 μm long). These are the first species of Anophryocephalus to be described from phocines in the eastern Canadian Arctic, and are included in a revised key for the genus.