Cestode parasites (Platyhelminthes) of rodents from New Guinea and adjacent islands with a redescription of Paroniella blanchardi (Parona, 1897) (Davaineidae)

Cestodes collected from a variety of species of rodents of the genera Chiruromys Thomas, 1888, Hydromys Geoffroy, 1804, Melomys Thomas, 1922, Paramelomys Rümmler, 1936, Pogonomys Milne-Edwards, 1877, Rattus Fischer de Waldheim, 1803 and Uromys Peters, 1867 from New Guinea and adjacent islands are reported. The species most frequently encountered was the cosmopolitan species Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi, 1819) with a single occurrence of the related hymenolepidid Rodentolepis fraterna (Stiles, 1906). Davaineid cestodes were common with Raillietina celebensis (Janicki, 1902) and R. melomyos Jones & Anderson, 1996 being found in several host species. Paroniella blanchardi (Parona, 1897) is reported and is redescribed together with an apparently novel species of Paroniella Fuhrmann, 1920. Two species of Bertiella Stiles & Hassall, 1902, B. anapolytica Baylis, 1934 and B. musasabi Yamaguti, 1942 were encountered considerably extending their known host and geographical ranges. Mathevotaenia niuguiniensis Beveridge, 2008, previously reported from New Guinea was found in additional host species. A dilepidid cestode species was also found but the material available was insufficient to allow identification. Numerous new host species are reported for the cestodes described.