Diversity of Tetraphyllidea, parasites of Rhinoptera bonasus Mitchill from the Brazilian Southeast Coast

Abstract

Despite the importance of parasites on ecosystem and also as good biological index, the parasites'diversity studies has been neglected over the time, resulting in an understimated diversity pattern. Thisproject is focused on the survey of parasites cestodes fauna from the stingray Rhinpotera bonasusMitchill, found at tropical zones from the eastern Atlantic and the western Atlantic. The parasites data arefrom 4 specimens from brazilian southeastern coast, at Paraty - RJ and will be supplemented byadditional collections. Preliminary studies indicate the presence of 3 new species of cestodes for this host.These species are from the genera Rhodobothrium Linton, 1890, Dioecotaenia Schmidt, 1969 andDuplicibothrium William & Campbell, 1978. This project aims at publishing the formal taxonomicdescription for these species. As there is no record of species from these genera for the brazilian coast,this project is relevant because it adds species from these genera at this biogeographical zone.