A new species of genus Cotugnia Diamare (Cestoda: Davaineidae, Fuhrmann 1907) from domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) of district Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

During the current investigation of cestodes parasites of domestic fowl Gallus domesticus of district Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan, six undescribed specimens of genus Cotugnia Diamare 1893 were recovered from the intestine of single host birds. Present specimen come closer to all the known species of genus Cotugnia but differ in having scolex cup-shaped, four muscular cup-shaped spined sucker, rostellum oval with numerous pin shaped hooks, mature segments trapezium in shape, ovaries flower shape, lies in the middle of segment, cirrus sac globular to oval in shape, cirrus protruded out word in all the segments, testes 15-20 in number genital aperture round in shape armed with tiny spines situated at the middle of segments, gravid proglottids tetra angular in shape containing numerous egg capsule with 2-3 egg in each capsule and other varying characters. The name of new species C. asiyasis refers the name of the late sister of the first author.