ESCHERBOTHRIUM MOLINAE N-GEN ET N-SP (EUCESTODA, TETRAPHYLLIDEA, TRILOCULARIIDAE) IN UROTRYGON CHILENSIS (CHONDRICHTHYES, MYLIOBATIFORMES, UROLOPHIDAE) FROM THE GULF OF NICOYA, COSTA-RICA

Cestodes collected in spiral valves of the stingray Urotrygon chilensi s from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica represent an undescribed specie s of Tetraphyllidea. By possessing more than 2 loculi as well as an ap ical sucker on each bothridium, the new species is diagnosably distinc t from all other tetraphyllidean genera; therefore, a new genus is pro posed for it. The new species also possesses globular structures irreg ularly arranged on the surface of the bothridia. We found similar stru ctures on the bothridial faces of Trilocularia acanthiaevulgaris, poss ibly indicating phylogenetic relationships with the new species. This possibility is enhanced by the observation that the bothridia of T. ac anthiaevulgaris comprise 2 loculi and an apical sucker, rather than 3 loculi.