Cestode parasites from the elasmobranchs Heptranchias perlo and Deania from the Great Meteor Bank, central East Atlantic

A total of ten Heptranchias perlo, eight Deania histricosa, two D, calcea, and two D. profundorum from the Great Meteor Bank, central East Atlantic, w ere studied for cestodes. The elasmobranchs were caught using bottom trawl or long-lines during September 1998 in 298-1075 m water depth. Seven differ ent cestode species were found: Tentacularia coryphaenae, Deanicola minor, D. protentus, Grillotia meteori sp, nov., Grillotia cf. microthrix (Trypano rhyncha), Crossobothrium dohrnii, and Crossobothrium sp. (Tetraphyllidea). T coryphaenae occurred encapsulated in the stomach wall and all other speci es were found within the host intestine. G. meteori sp, nov, and G. cf. mic rothrix additionally infested the musculature as well as the stomach and in testinal wall. D. profundorum harboured five different cestode species and D. histricosa, H. perlo, and D. calcea were infested with four, three and t wo species, respectively. With 332 and 181 specimens, D. minor and G. cf. m icrothrix were the most abundant cestodes. Gp Grillotia meteori sp, nov., C rossobothrium sp., and C. dohrnii were host specific for Deania profundorum , D. histricosa and H. perlo, respectively. The other species were found in more than one elasmobranch, with Deanicola minor and D. protentus restrict ed to Deania sp. Most parasites are recorded for the first time from the ce ntral East Atlantic around the Great Meteor Bank. (C) 2001 Ifremer/CNRS/Inr a/IRD/Cemagref/Edition scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.