Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the systematics of the pentastomid genus Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1811) with descriptions of two new species

  • Published:
Systematic Parasitology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

By using comparative hook measurements and a standardized annulus counting procedure we have shown that the three previously described American species of Porocephalus are distinct. However there is little to relate these to the two African species since they differ in several aspects of their morphology and life-cycles. Two new species are described from North and Central American rattlesnakes and these are distinguished from P. crotali (Humboldt, 1808) by their size and hooks. P. stilesi (Sambon, 1910) is specific to snakes of the genus Lachesis. Another possible new species, closely related to P. clavatus (Wyman, 1847) infects snakes of the genus Bothrops: it is not P. stilesi as previously supposed. The life-cycles of Porocephalus spp. are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Awachie, J.B.E. (1972) On Porocephalus subulifer (Leuckart) and Raillietiella boulengeri Vaney and Sambon (Pentastomida) from ophidian hosts in Nigeria, Acta Parasitologica Polonica, 20, 189–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banaja, A.A., James, J.L. & Riley, J. (1975) An experimental investigation of a direct life-cycle in Reighardia sternae (Diesing, 1864), a pentastomid parasite of the herring gull Larus argentatus. Parasitology, 71, 493–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breinl, A. & Hindle, E. (1909) A new Porocephalus (Porocephalus cercopitheci n. sp.) Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 2, 321–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doucet, J. (1965) Contribution a l'étude anatomique, histologique et histochemique des pentastomes (Pentastomida). Mémoires de l'Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d'Outre-Mer, 14, 1–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esslinger, J.H. (1962) Morphology of the egg and larva of Porocephalus crotali (Pentastomida). Journal of Parasitology, 48, 457–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fain, A. (1960) Diagnoses de deux nouveau pentastomides du Congo Belge. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 61, 117–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fain, A. (1961) Les pentastomides de l'Afrique centrale. Annales du Musée Royal de l'Afrique centrale. Series 8vo, 92, 1–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca, F. (1939) Observações sobre o ciclo evolutivo de Porocephalus clavatus, especialmente sobre o seu orquidotropismo em cobais. Memorias do Instituto Butantan, 12, 185–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forester, D.J., Shealey, R.M. & Best, S.H. (1970) Porocephalus crotali (Pentastomida) in South Carolina. Journal of Parasitology, 56, 977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giglioli, G.S. (1927) Notes on some neotropical species of tongue worms. Human porocephaliasis in tropical America. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 30, 33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heymons, R. (1935) Pentastomida. In: Bronns Klassen und Ordnungen des Tierreiches, Vol. 5, Leipzig, pp. 1–268.

  • Heymons, R. (1940) Veber Afrikanische Pentastomida mit besonder Berücksichtigung der neuren. Funde ihres Varkommen im Belgischen Kongo Stadt und in Kamerun. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 23, 201–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hett, M.L. (1924) On the family Linguatulidae. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1, 107–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humboldt, A. Von (1808) Ansichten de Natur mit Wissenschaftlichen Erläuterungen, vol. I. Tübingen, 344 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humboldt, A. Von (1811) Sur un ver intestin trouvé dans les poumons du serpent à sonettes de Cumana. Recueil d'observations de Zoologie et d'Anatomie Comparée, faites dans l'Ocean Atlantique, dans l'Interieur du nouveau continent et dans le Mer du Sud, vol. I, pp. 298–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klauber, L.M. (1972) Rattlesnakes. (Vols. I and II). University of California Press.

  • Kinsella, J.M. (1974) Seasonal incidence of Porocephalus crotali (Pentastomida) in rice rats Oryzomys palustris from a Florida salt marsh. Journal of Medical Entomology, 11, 116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Layne, J.N. (1967) Incidence of Porocephalus crotali in Florida mammals. Bulletin of the Wildlife Diseases Association, 3, 105–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leuckart, R. (1860) Bau und Entwicklungeschichte der Pentastomen. Nach Untersuchungen bersonders von Pent. taenoides und P. dendiculatum. Leipzig: Winter'sche Verlagshandlung, vi+160 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, B., Cosgrove, G.E. & Gencozian, N. (1966) Diseases of an imported primate Tamarinus nigricollis. Laboratory Animal Care, 16, 255–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penn, G.H. (1940) Observations on the life-cycle of a linguatulid Porocephalus crotali (Humboldt, 1808). Anatomical Record, 78, p. 125 (abst.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Penn, G.H. (1942) The life-history of Porocephalus crotali, a parasite of the Louisiana muskrat. Journal of Parasitology, 28, 277–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penn, G.H. & Martin, E.C. (1941) The occurrence of porocephaliasis in the Louisiana muskrat. Journal of Wildlife Management, 5, 13–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rêgo, A.A. & Vicente, J.J. (1971) Sôbre as larvas de Porocephalus crotali (Humboldt, 1811) (Pentastomida) em mamiferos, do Brasil. Atas da Sociedade de Biologia do Rio de Janeiro, 15, 65–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, J. (1972) Some observations on the life-cycle of Reighardia sternae Diesing, 1864 (Pentastomida). Zeitschift für Parasitenkunde, 40, 49–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, J., Banaja, A.A. & James, J.L. (1978) The phylogenetic relationships of the Pentastomida: the case for their inclusion within the Crustacea. International Journal for Parasitology, 8, 245–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambon, L.W. (1910) Preliminary notes on three new species of tongue worms (Linguatulidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 3, 134–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambon, L.W. (1922) A synopsis of the family Linguatulidae. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 25, 188–206, 391–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Self, J.T. (1951) The auxiliary hooks in Porocephalus crotali Humboldt. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 70, 255–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Self, J.T. & Cosgrove, G.E. (1968) Pentastome larvae in laboratory primates. Journal of Parasitology, 54, 689.

    Google Scholar 

  • Self, J.T. & Cosgrove, G.E. (1972) Pentastomida. In: Pathology of Simian Primates. Part II. T.-W-Fiennes, R.N. & Karger, S. (Editors). Basel, pp. 194–204.

  • Self, J.T. & McMurray, F.B. (1948) Porocephalus crotali Humboldt (sic) (Pentastomida) in Oklahoma. Journal of Parasitology, 34, 21–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiles, C.W. (1891) Bau und Entwicklungsgeschichte von Pentastomum proboscideum Rud. und Pentastomum subcylindricum Dies. Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie, 52, 85–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiles, C.W. & Hassall, A. (1929) Key catalogue of parasites reported for primates (monkey and lemurs) with their possible public health importance. United States Treasury Department Public Health Service Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin No. 152, 420–491.

  • Vargas, M.V. (1970a) A contribution to the morphology of the eggs and nymphal stages of Porocephalus stilesi Sambon, 1910 and Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1847) Sambon, 1910 (Pentastomida). Revista de Biologia Tropicale, 17, 27–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vargas, M.V. (1970b) Los dilatodores de copulacion de Porocephalus clavatus y Porocephalus stilesi (Pentastomida). Revista de Biologia Tropicale, 16, 241–245.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, The University, DD1 4HN, Dundee, Scotland

    J. Riley

  2. Department of Zollogy, University of Oklahoma, 73019, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

    J. T. Self

Authors
  1. J. Riley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. T. Self
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Riley, J., Self, J.T. On the systematics of the pentastomid genus Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1811) with descriptions of two new species. Syst Parasitol 1, 25–42 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009772

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009772

Keywords

Search

Navigation