DESCRIPTION OF THREE NYBELINIA SPECIES 



131 



justify the genus Kotorella Euzet & Radujkovic, 1989 within the 

 Tentaculariidae Poche, 1926. However, the gross morphological 

 characters such as scolex form, proportions and form of the bulbs 

 indicate a close phylogenetic relationship between Kotorella and 

 Nybelina, as proposed by Campbell & Beveridge (1994) and Palm 

 (1995, 1997). Interestingly, acladistic analysis of the genera within 

 the Trypanorhyncha failed to assign the genus Kotorella to the same 

 clade as the other tentaculariid genera (Beveridge et al., 1999). 



The scolex measurements for Nybelinia southwelli sp. nov. ap- 

 pear to be variable. Although having a similar scolex size to the 

 holotype, the tentacular hooks of the paratype were distinctly smaller. 

 It appears that measurements of armature within a species can show 

 variability as do other scolex measurements, e.g. scolex length (TV. 

 nipponica: 1 .35-2.9; N.karachii: 1.25-2.5 (Yamaguti, 1952, Kurshid 

 & Bilqees, 1 988)), scolex width (N. beveridgei: 2. 1-3. 1 ; A 7 , thyrsites: 

 0.66-1.06 (Palm et al, 1997, Beveridge & Campbell, 1996)) and 

 bulb length (N. nipponica: 310-550 (Yamaguti, 1952)). The syn- 

 onymy of Nybelinia herdmani with Kotorella pronosoma gives a 

 further example on scolex variability within tentaculariid 

 trypanorhynchs. The absolute values of scolex measurements as 

 well as hook sizes varied about l/3 rd of total value between the 

 different specimens. Kotorella pronosoma as described by Euzet & 

 Radujkovic (1989) can be considered as smaller specimens than the 

 material examined by us, which is reflected in both, smaller scolex 

 measurements and smaller hooks. This observation generally ques- 

 tions the usage of minor absolute values in scolex and hook 

 measurements as main species distinguishing characters within 

 tentaculariid cestodes. A similar variability in the scolex morphol- 

 ogy of trypanorhynch plerocerci has been demonstrated for 

 Otobothrium penetrans by Palm et al. (1993). Whether such differ- 

 ences are generally due to different host species or a different age of 

 the postlarvae, plerocerci or adults compared cannot be decided at 

 present. 



This variability within trypanorhynch cestodes has resulted in the 

 description of several invalid species, especially within the genus 

 Nybelina, as proposed by Palm et al. (1997). However, the 

 subgrouping of Nybelinia species based on characters of the tentacu- 

 lar armature appears to be a useful tool for further taxonomic studies 

 within the genus (see Palm et al., 1997). In the present study, all 

 species within the subgroupings IIAb and IIBa are clearly defined. 

 Further studies are needed to clarify the validity of species within the 

 other 6 groupings, leading to a complete revision of the genus 

 Nybelina. 



Acknowledgements. Our thanks are extended to Dr. D. Gibson and E. 

 Harris, Parasitic Worms Division, Natural History Museum London, and Dr. 

 H. Sattmann, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, for providing access to the 

 examined material. We are grateful to Dr. R.A. Bray for revising an earlier 

 draft of the manuscript. Financial support was provided by the Institut fiir 

 Meereskunde Kiel. 



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