Description of a new specie of Anthocephalum Linton, 1891 in Dasyatis guttata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) for the Brazilian NE coast

Abstract

Taxonomic studies of parasites are important to the knowledge of the biological diversity, mainly because many of these lineages are poorly known and parasites, in general, are often neglected as a component of the biota. This project is centered in the description of a new specie of Anthocephalum Linton, 1891 (Cestoda: Rhinebothriidea), a genus of cestodes parasites of marine batoids (i.e., stingrays). The genus is comprized by 18 species os parasites of stingrays worldwide. Specimens of Anthocephalum were obtained fom 5 specimens of Dasyatis guttata (Chondrichthyes: Dasyatidae) in September of 2010 off the coast of Maceió - AL, Brazil. Preliminary examination of theses specimens revealed that they should be considered a new species of Anthocephalum. Hence, the objective of this project is to provide a formal taxonomic description for this taxon. Specimens will be prepared according to the conventional helmintology techniques for the obtention of morphological and morphometrics data, and description of internal structures. Scanning electron microscopy will be used to document and describe tegumentary structures (microtriches) of taxonomic relevance, and the data obtained will be compared to those species of Anthocephalum known for the Atlantic Ocean. The final product of this project should be an article describing the new species. (AU)