PROTEOCEPHALUS-SOPHIAE N-SP (CESTODA, PROTEOCEPHALIDAE), A PARASITE OF THE SILUROID FISH PAULICEA-LUETKENI (PISCES, PIMELODIDAE) FROM THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Proteocephalus sophiae n. sp. is described from the siluroid fish Paul icea luetkeni (Steindachner), caught in the Amazon river at Itacoatiar a (Amazonas State, Brazil). Among the Proteocephalus species of neotro pical freshwater fishes, the absence of preporal vitellaria in the new species is unique with the exception of Proteocephalus macdonaghi (Sz idat & Soria) from which it differs in a series of other characters. I ncluding Proteocephalus sophiae, seven species of Proteocephalidea eac h representing a different genus, are recorded from Paulicea luetkeni, which is a surprisingly high parasite diversity.