Order CATHETOCEPHALIDEA Schmidt & Beveridge, 1990

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Introduction

This order was erected for the family Cathetocephalidae by Schmidt & Beveridge (1990) associated with the description of a new species from the only known genus, Cathetocephalus australis, found in Australia. Formerly placed in the order Tetraphyllidea (which is based on the presence of four bothridia), the new order was distinguished by the lack of bothridia but by the presence of a laterally elongated attachment organ. The new order was not accepted by Euzet (1994), but subsequent morphological and in particular molecular studies have provided support of the order and it reinstatement (Caira et al., 2005). It contains a single family, Cathetocephalidae.

General References

Caira, J.N., Mega, J., & Ruhnke, T.R. 2005. An unusual blood-sequestering tapeworm (Sanguinilevator yearsleyi n. gen, n. sp.) from Borneo with description of Cathetocephalus resendezi n. sp. from Mexico and molecular support for the recognition of the order Cathetocephalidea (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda). International Journal for Parasitology 35: 1135-1152

Euzet, L. 1994. Order Tetraphyllidea Carus, 1863. pp. 149-194 in Khalil, L.F., Jones, A. & Bray, R.A. (eds). Keys to the Cestode Parasites of Vertebrates. Wallingford, UK : Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux International 751 pp.

Schmidt, G.D. & Beveridge, I. 1990. Cathetocephalus australis n. sp. (Cestoidea: Cathetocephalidae) from Australia with a proposal for Cathetocephalidea n. ord. Journal of Parasitology 76: 337-339

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