Acanthocephala from Kenya with Descriptions of Two New Species

Authors:
  • GSGerold D. Schmidt
    Gerold D. Schmidt
  • ACAlbert G. Canaris
    Albert G. Canaris
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Abstract
Three species of Acanthocephala are reported from Kenya, East Africa. Mediorhynchus wardi sp. n. from several passerine birds is described and differentiated by possessing 24 to 26 rows of six to eight hooks on the anterior portion and 40 rows of four or five spines on the posterior portion of the proboscis and in having an anterior swelling of the trunk. Cervical and apical sensory pits are reported for Mediorhynchus. Polyacanthorhynchus kenyensis sp. n. is described from juveniles encysted in the livers of the freshwater teleosts Tilapia sp. and Micropterus salmoides. It is unique in bearing 21 or 22 rows of 26 hooks. The zoogeography and systematic position of Polyacanthorhynchus is discussed. N ephridiacanthus longissimus Golvan, 1962, is reported from the aardvark Orycteropus afer.