Palaearctic species of the genus Confluaria Ablasov (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae): redescriptions of C-podicipina (Szymanski, 1905) and C-furcifera (Krabbe, 1869), description of C-pseudofurcifera n. sp., a key and final comments

Redescriptions are provided of Confluaria podicipina (Szymanski, 1905) (spe cimens from Podiceps nigricollis and Tachybaptus ruficollis from Bulgaria) and C. furcifera (Krabbe, 1869) (syntypes from P. grisegena from Denmark an d specimens from P. grisegena, P. nigricollis and T. ruficollis from Bulgar ia). C. pseudofurcifera n. sp. is described from P. cristatus from Switzerl and and Bulgaria. The previous records of C. furcifera from P. cristatus in Switzerland (Joyeux & Baer, 1950), Poland (Jarecka, 1958; Korpaczewska, 19 60), Czech Republic (Rysavy & Sitko, 1995) and Baltic Coast (Galkin, 1986) are recognised as belonging to C. pseudofurcifera. Confluaria Ablasov in Sp asskaya, 1966 is recognised as a valid genus and Dimorphocanthus Maksimova, 1989 is confirmed as its synonym. A key to the Palaearctic species of Conf luaria is presented.