Taxonomic revision of Joyeuxilepis Spassky, 1947 (Cestoda: Amabiliidae): redescriptions of J. biuncinata (Joyeux & Baer, 1943), J. decacantha (Fuhrmann, 1913) and J. pilatus Borgarenko & Gulyaev, 1991.

ABSTRACT

Two species of Joyeuxilepis Spassky, 1947 are redescribed from Tachybaptus ruficollis in Bulgaria J. biuncinata (Joyeux & Baer, 1943) and J. pilatus Borgarenko & Gulyaev, 1991. The syntypes of J. decacantha (Fuhrmann, 1913) from Podiceps cristatus in Sweden and voucher specimens of J. pilatus (identified as 'Tatria decacantha') from T. ruficollis in England (new geographical record) from the British Museum (Natural History) Collection are also re-described. The voucher specimens and cysticercoids of Tatria spp. from dragonfly nymphs in Wales recorded by Rees (1973) were re-examined. Previous records of J. biuncinata, J. decacantha and J. pilatus are critically analysed in view of the present results. The major reliable diagnostic characters for species of Joyeuxilepis are presented and the distinguishing criteria for the three species studied are re-evaluated.