Acanthocephalans, including the description of a new species of Mediorhynchus (Gigantorhynchidae) and a redescription of Centrorhynchus clitorideus (Centrorhynchidae) from vertebrate hosts from South Africa

Forty-seven individuals comprising 4 species of birds, Tockus leucomelas, Crecopsis egregia, Turdus smithi, and Bubo africanus; 4 species of mammals, Otolemur crassicaudatus, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, Mus minutoides, and Mus sp.; and 1 species of reptile, Varanus albigularis, all from South Africa were examined for acanthocephalans. Centrorhynchus clitorideus, Mediorhynchus mokgalongi n. sp., Masticophis taeniatus, Moniliformis acomysi, Moniliformis sp., Plagiorhynchus (Prosthorhynchus) cylindraceus, and a putative new genus of the Oligacanthorhynchidae were found. Additional characters of C. clitorideus were described. The new species of Mediorhynchus differs from all congeners by a suite of characters, including a proboscis armature of 125-156 hooks arranged in 24-26 longitudinal rows of 24-26 hooks and 30 rows of 5-6 spines. The putative new genus has a total of 24 hooks arranged in 12 longitudinal rows of 2 hooks. All are new host and locality records. © 2018 The Helminthological Society of Washington.