New record of genus Pallisentis Van Cleave, 1928 (Acanthocephalan: Quadrigyridae) in Little Cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae) from Sindh, Pakistan
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Abstract
Helminth Parasites of Little Cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger from central District Sanghar of Sindh Pakistan were investigated during December 2014-2015. Little Cormorant,P. niger is fish eating, migratory cum resident bird, harbour diverse parasites and commonly found in water bodies of the study area. Eleven hosts (P. niger) were examined in Parasitological Laboratory of Zoology department, Sindh University Jamshoro. Only one host was harbouring two specimens of acanthocephalan. These were collected from intestine and have proboscis with four circles of spines, eleven circle of collar spine with 14 spines in each circle, sacculate proboscis receptacle, tubular lemenisci, cylindrical testes and long cement glands. These features correspond to generic features of genus PallisentisVan Cleave, 1928. However, genus Pallisentis usually collected from freshwater fishes and has not been reported from birds. Therefore, present infection in Little Cormorant might be result of its piscivorous feeding habit. Present paper deals first record of genusPallisentisVan Cleave, 1928 in Little Cormorant, P. niger from Pakistan.
Keywords: Acanthocephalan; Little Cormorant; Phalacrocorax niger; Pallisentis; Intestine