The genus Biuterina Fuhrmann, 1902 (Cestoda, Paruterinidae) in the Old World: redescriptions of four species from Afrotropical passeriformes.

Four species of Biuterina Fuhrmann, 1902 (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae), originally described from Afrotropical passeriform birds, are redescribed and figured on the basis of their type-specimens. These are B. pentamyzos (Mettrick, 1960) from Prionops plumata (Laniidae) in Zimbabwe, B. quelea (Mettrick, 1963) from Quelea quelea (Ploceidae) in Zimbabwe, B. ugandae Baylis, 1919 from Chalcomitra senegalensis (Nectariniidae) in Uganda and B. zambiensis (Mettrick, 1960) from Campephaga flava (Campephagidae) in Zimbabwe. The rostellum of B. quelea is a spherical structure filled with strongly-developed glandular tissue and possessing a weak musculature. The remaining three species have a sucker-like rostellar apparatus with moderately developed glandular tissue in the rostellum and around it. It is considered that the glandular elements are an inherent part of the rostellar apparatus of the paruterinids. An armament consisting of fine, punctiform, spine-like structures arranged in transverse rows on the inner surface of suckers is observed in B. pentamyzos. This is the first record of sucker armature in the Paruterinidae.