Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 67. (Budapest 1975)

Tenora, F. ; Murai, É.: Cestodes recovered from rodents (Rodentia) in Mongolia

CESTODES FROM RODENTS 67 from C. rhombomydis SCHULZ et LANDA, 1934, in the lower number of testes; from C. peromysci SMITH, 1954, in the lower number of uterine branches and lower number of testes. Discussion. In present literature discussing cestodes of the genus Catenotaenia JANICKI, 1904, the authors express different opinions on the validity of the hitherto described species. This derives mostly from the different criteria used for establishing bona species (e.g. number of testes, number of uterine branches, length of cirrus sac, hosts, Zoogeographie distribution, etc.). For example, the shape and type of eggs have never been considered, and in no paper has a complex of diagnostic characters been applied for identification. Moreover, difficulties in identification of some species of the genus Catenotaenia result in the relegation of some specimens to species without reference to their original descriptions from the original hosts. In the following, we wish to call attention to some main characters of the known species of the genus Catenotaenia, without a presumation of our hypotheses being definitive on the validity of the species. We are aware of the fact that many species remain to be verified by new findings from original hosts and localities, and that redescriptions are to be made in the future. The present state of the genus Catenotaenia appears to be as follows : Catenotaenia pusilla (GOEZE, 1782) (Fig. 4) The species is characterized by the presence of 70—150 testes and 9—15 x 2 branches of uterus. It is a common parasite of Mus musculus, with cosmopolitan distribution. In QUENTIN'S (1971) opinion, based on literature studies, the typical hosts of this species are members of the group Gliridae

—Muroidea. YAMAOUTI'S (1959) identification of C. pusilla, illustrated in Fig. 481 b, is questionable, since mere than 15x2 primary uterine branches are present. Catenotaenia dendritica (GOEZE, 1782) (Fig. 5) This species is typical of Sciurus vulgaris in Europe, and it was first correctly redescribed and defined by JOYEUX & BAER (1945). It is characterized by the presence of 140-— 180 testes and 35—40 x 2 branches of uterus. The testes are partly divided into two lateral groups. The outer shell of eggs is elongated, with very fine spines on the apical side (published for the first time). There are many synonyms of this species in the literature (see surveys in TENORA 1964, QUENTIN 1971). Of these only Catenotaenia ris YAMAGUTI, 1942, appears to be a true synonym, though this should be verified in the future. In contrast to C. dendritica, C. ris has a) different number of testes, b) different number of uterine branches, c) different size of eggs, d) different host and e) occurs in other zoogeographical regions. This is based also on AKHUMYAN (SPASSKY 1951, TENORA 1964), who reported C. dendritica from unusual hosts : Mesocricetus auratus brandti and Cricetulus migratorius. AKHUMYAN (l.c) observed in the specimens studied (identified as C. dendritica) 35—38 X 2 uterine branches, but the average number of testes was larger in her material (143—200). It should be also verified whether the specimens recovered by SPASSKY (1951) from S. vulgaris in the Moscow region (USSR) represent G. dendritica. The author states that 50—60 X 2 uterine branches are present, but this does not correspond to the primary number of uteri in Fig. 637. For a definitive solution of this problem a revision of the material will be necessary. Also the specimens found by TENORA & KULLMAXN (1970) in rodents from Afghanistan, and determined as C. dendritica, should be studied from new aspects. Their material does not conform to the redeseription of the species C. dendritica published by JOYEUX & BAER (1945). It differs in the following features: a) the testes are not partly divided in two lateral groups, b) the number of testes and uterine branches is smaller. On the basis of these differential characters, as well as the host species (Alticola roylei and Cricetulus migratorius from Afghanistan), it may be assumed that a new cestode species is concerned.