SYNONYMY OF PROTEOCEPHALUS-POLLANICOLA GRESSON, 1952 (CESTODA, PROTEOCEPHALIDAE), A PARASITE OF POLLAN, COREGONUS-AUTUMNALIS POLLAN, WITH PROTEOCEPHALUS-EXIGUUS LA-RUE, 1911

The systematic status of the tapeworm Proteocephalus pollanicola Gress on, 1952, a parasite of pollan Coregonus autumnalis pollan Thompson, w as evaluated on the basis of freshly collected material from the type- locality (Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland). Comparison of morphological, biometrical and DNA data (RAPD method) from P. pollanicola and from P . exiguus La Rue, 1911, a very common parasite of coregonid fish, did not find any substantial differences between them to confirm the valid ity of P. pollanicola. Accordingly, P pollanicola is considered to be a synonym of P exiguus, a widely distributed parasite in the Holarctic .