Anthocephalum veronicae, Sakai & Marques & Trevisan, 2025

Anthocephalum veronicae n. sp.

( Figs. 3D View FIGURE 3 , 6G–H View FIGURE 6 , 7D–F View FIGURE 7 , 8F–J View FIGURE 8 )

Type host: Styracura schmardae (Werner, 1904) —Chupare stingray.

Type locality: Coast of Tobacco Caye , Stann Creek, Belize (16°54’15.2”N, 88°03’38.2”W) GoogleMaps .

Additional localities: Head Caye , Toledo, Belize (16°49’43.1”N, 88°04’48.1”W) GoogleMaps .

Site of infection: Spiral intestine.

Prevalence of infection: 40% (two of five valves).

Specimens deposited: Holotype ( HWML 217959 View Materials ) GoogleMaps and three paratypes ( HWML 217960–217962 View Materials ); GoogleMaps four paratypes ( LRP 11291–11294 ); GoogleMaps and three paratypes ( MZUSP 8062 View Materials , 8063a–b ). GoogleMaps

Etymology: This species honors Dr. Veronica Mantovani Bueno for her contributions to cestodes taxonomy and systematics.

Description. [Based on 18 specimens: 9 whole mounts of mature worms, 8 scolexes prepared for SEM and cross sections of 1 mature proglottid]: Worms euapolityc, 22.6–43.5 mm (n=9) long with 116–180 proglottids (n=9) in number, maximum width 2472–2828 (n=3) at level of scolex ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Scolex ( Figs. 7D View FIGURE 7 , 8F View FIGURE 8 ) with four stalked bothridia, each one with 180–190 (n=3) marginal loculi and one oval apical sucker; apical sucker 75–107 (n=2) long by 56.5–78 (n=2) wide. Short cephalic peduncle present. Proximal surfaces of marginal loculi next to the bothridial rims covered with acicular filitriches and scolopate spinithriches ( Fig. 8G, H View FIGURE 8 ); bothridial rims covered with acicular filitriches ( Fig. 8I View FIGURE 8 ); distal surface of bothridium covered with capiliform filitriches ( Fig. 8J View FIGURE 8 ).

Proglottids craspedote. Immature proglottids wider than long, becoming longer than wide with maturity, 104– 178 in number (n=9) ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Mature proglottids ( Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ) 1667–2230 (n=6) long by 405–577 (n=6) wide, 1–3 in number (n=9). Testes arranged in four columns from near anterior margin of proglottid to anterior margin of genital pore, and 1 row-deep in cross section ( Figs. 7E View FIGURE 7 , 6G View FIGURE 6 ). Testes 44–79 (n=5) by 31–66 (n=5) wide, 64–90 (n=4) in number. Cirrus-sac pyriform bent posteriorly, 80.5–272 (n=6) long by 76.5–161 (n=6) wide, containing coiled cirrus ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ). Cirrus armed with spinitriches. Genital pores lateral, irregularly alternating, 29.5–38.6% (n=6) of proglottid length from posterior end ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 , 7F View FIGURE 7 ). Ovary near posterior end of proglottid, H-shaped in frontal view ( Figs. 3D View FIGURE 3 , 7E View FIGURE 7 ), tetralobed in cross-section ( Fig. 6H View FIGURE 6 ), slightly asymmetrical, 393.5–649.5 (n=6) long by 209.5–340.5 (n=6) wide; ovarian bridge near middle of ovary. Mehli’s gland posterior to ovarian bridge. Vagina thick-walled, sinuous, extending medially in proglottid from ootype to anterior margin of cirrus-sac, then laterally to open into genital atrium anterior to cirrus ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ). Vitellarium follicular; vitelline follicles 46–74.5 (n=6) by 10.5–22.5 (n=5) wide arranged in two lateral bands, each band consisting of one dorsal and one ventral column of vitelline follicles, extending from posterior margin of the second or third anterior-most row of testes to near posterior margin of the proglottid, interrupted by genital pore both dorsally and ventrally ( Figs. 7E, F View FIGURE 7 ). Uterus saccate, ventral, extending along median line of proglottid from near the ovarian bridge to posterior margin of first or second anterior-most row of testes ( Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ).

Remarks: Anthocephalum veronicae n. sp. is morphologically distinct from all except two species within its genus— A. haroldsoni and A. gravisi —by possessing uninterrupted vitelline follicles by the ovary. However, the new species is clearly different from A. haroldsoni and A. gravisi in total length (22.6–43.5 mm vs. 1.8–3.7 mm and 3.6–7.9 mm, respectively), by possessing a larger number of proglottids (116–180 vs. 9–16 and 17–29, respectively), a higher number of loculi (180–190 vs. 43–52 and 41–57, respectively), and more testes in number (64–90 vs. 23–38 and 25–32, respectively).