natural, history

1oItl.~.v.Fig. 2. Raillietina (R.) insignis. Ventral view of young mature segment showing two sets of copulatoryorgans (semi-diagrammatic): lettering as in Fig. I.from the genus Raillietina, particularly from that group (the subgenera (Paroniella)and (Skrjabinia) which contains forms with only one egg in each capsule.The specific determination of all the above material is, at the moment, rather unsatisfactory,and its present designation should be regarded as provisional. Raillietina(R.) insignis was originally described by STEUDE"IER (1877) as Taenia insignis fromDucula [Carpophaga] oceanica obtained in the "Siidsee". The description contains awealth of detail but little information of systematic value, particularly since STEU­DENER has, as BAER (1933) points out, misunderstood the arrangement of the femalecomplex, and his material needs to be re-examined. It is through comparison withComparison of specimens of Raillietina (R.) insignis from various sources(All measurements in mm.)Host and geographicaldistributionDlI.clI./a oceanica"Siidsee" (FromSTEUDENER, 1877)DlI.clI./a badiaSarawak"Pigeon"British SolomonIslandsDlI.cula p.paciftcaRennell Is.Length, maximum 130 130 90 32 (fragmentary)Width, maximum 1.9 2 1.3 1.4Scolex, diameter 0.31-0.39 0.27-0.39 0.24-0.30 0.22-0.33Rostellum diameter 0.15 0.15-0.22 0.16-0.18 0.18-0.20Hooks, number ca. 200 ca. 200 ca. 200Hooks, length 0.015 0.015-0.017 0.015-0.017 0.015-0.017Suckers, diameter 0.05-0.06 0.08-0.10 0.067 0.087Cirrus· sac, length 0.15 0.125-0.137 0.125 0.12-0.15Cirrus-sac, width 0.06 0.OS-O.062 0.06Testes, number 14-18 IS-17 15-18(4-6 poral; (4-S poral: (5-6 paral;10-12 aparal) 11-12 aporal) 10-12 aparal)Egg-capsules, diameter 0.06-0.1 0.1-0.12 0.1-0.12Eggs. number per capsule - 6-7 6-10 7-108S