ARS | Publication request: ANOPHRYOCEPHALUS INUITORUM SP. NOV. AND A. ARCTICENSIS SP. NOV. (EUCESTODA:TETRABOTHRIIDAE) IN RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA) AND HARP SEALS (PHOCA GROENLANDICA) FROM HIGH LATITUDE SEAS OF WESTERN CANADA & THE ARCTIC BASIN

Submitted to: Canadian Journal of Zoology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 29, 1994
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: As a component of continuing biodiversity studies, new species of tetrabothriid tapeworms are described from phocid seals in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Anophryocephalus inuitorum is described from ringed seals, Phoca hispida hispida, whereas Anophryocephalus arcticensis was found in ringed seals and harp seals, Phoca groenlandica. These previously unrecognized species are distinguished from congeners by a number of morphological attributes including the structure of the scolex, size of the strobila, neck region and number of testes. These are the first species of this genus to be found in the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic, and have implications for hypotheses that have been developed for the evolution and historical biogeography of the parasite fauna of phocine seals. To augment future studies on this fauna, a key to the 7 species of Anophryocephalus is presented.

Technical Abstract: Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp. n. and A. arcticensis sp. n. 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), cirrus sac (31-70 micrometers long), diameter of genital atrium (44-68 micrometers), and male canal (23-42 micrometers long). Anophryocephalus arcticensis resembles A. nunivakensis in the structure of the scolex, but is readily distinguished by greater dimensions of the neck (8.9-14.7 mm long), an elongate cirrus sac (60-98 micrometers by 44-73) with substantially thicker muscular wall, a more globular vitelline gland, and larger embroyophores (29-41 micrometers long) and oncospheres (24-34 micrometers 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.