ACANTHOCEPHALANS OF THE FAMILY CENTRORHYNCHIDAE (PALAEACANTHOCEPHALA)FROM BULGARIA

Five species of acanthocephalans of the family Centrorhynchidae are re corded from birds in Bulgaria: Centrohynchus amphibius Das, 1950 from Buteo, buteo (L.) (new host record), C. globocaudatus (Zeder, 1800) Lu he, 1911 from Falco tinnunculus L. and F. vespertinus L. (new host rec ord), Sphaerirostris picae (Rudolphi, 1819) Golvan. 1960 from Pica pic a (L.) and Lanius excubitor L. (new host record), S. lancea (Westrumb, 1821) Golvan. 1960 from Vanellus vanellus (L.), and S. turdi (Yamagut i, 1939) Golvan, 1960 from Turdus merula L., Cinclus cinclus (L.) (new host record)and Sturnus vulgaris L. (new host record). New geographic al record far Europe is this of C. amphibius, and for Bulgaria - this of S. turdi, The species are described and figured on the basis of Bul garian specimens. Sphaerirostris picae is recognized as a valid specie s and S. teres is considered its synonym. A male of S. picae with a co pulatory cap is reported.