Anthocephalum hobergi from Ecuador, a parasite of Urobatis tumbesensis, also known as the Tumbes round stingray. (All images courtesy of the Caira Lab)

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Anthocephalum hobergi from Ecuador, a parasite of Urobatis tumbesensis, also known as the Tumbes round stingray. (All images courtesy of the Caira Lab)

Litobothrium nickoli from Taiwan, a parasite of Alopias pelagicus, also known as the Pelagic thresher shark.

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Litobothrium nickoli from Taiwan, a parasite of Alopias pelagicus, also known as the Pelagic thresher shark.

Phoreiobothrium jahki from Borneo, a parasite of an undescribed species of Rhizoprionodon or sharpnose shark.

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Phoreiobothrium jahki from Borneo, a parasite of an undescribed species of Rhizoprionodon or sharpnose shark.

Rhinebothrium (undescribed species) from Baja Mexico, a parasite of Hypanus longus, also known as the Longtail stingray.

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Rhinebothrium (undescribed species) from Baja Mexico, a parasite of Hypanus longus, also known as the Longtail stingray.

Rhinebothrium biorchidum, from the Cayman Islands, a parasite of Urobatis jamaicensis, also known as the Yellow stingray.

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Rhinebothrium biorchidum, from the Cayman Islands, a parasite of Urobatis jamaicensis, also known as the Yellow stingray.

Sungaicestus kinabatanganesis from Borneo, a parasite of Urogymnus polylepis, also known as the Giant freshwater whipray.

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Sungaicestus kinabatanganesis from Borneo, a parasite of Urogymnus polylepis, also known as the Giant freshwater whipray.

Scalithrium (undescribed species) from Australia, a parasite of Glaucostegus typus, also known as the Giant shovelnose ray.

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Scalithrium (undescribed species) from Australia, a parasite of Glaucostegus typus, also known as the Giant shovelnose ray.

Paragrillotia similis from Florida, a parasite of Ginglymostoma cirratum, also known as the Atlantic nurse shark.

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Paragrillotia similis from Florida, a parasite of Ginglymostoma cirratum, also known as the Atlantic nurse shark.

Undescribed genus and species from South Africa, a parasite of Holohalaelurus regani, also known as the Izak catshark.

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Undescribed genus and species from South Africa, a parasite of Holohalaelurus regani, also known as the Izak catshark.

Acanthobothrium rodmani from Australia, a parasite of Urogymnus acanthobothrium, also known as the Mumburarr whipray.

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Acanthobothrium rodmani from Australia, a parasite of Urogymnus acanthobothrium, also known as the Mumburarr whipray.

Barbeaucestus jockuschae from Borneo, a parasite of Neotrygon orientale, also known as the Oriental bluespotted maskray.

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Barbeaucestus jockuschae from Borneo, a parasite of Neotrygon orientale, also known as the Oriental bluespotted maskray.

Calliobothrium wightmanorium from England, a parasite of Mustelus asterias, also known as the Starry smooth-hound shark.

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Calliobothrium wightmanorium from England, a parasite of Mustelus asterias, also known as the Starry smooth-hound shark.

Andocadoncum meganae from South Africa, a parasite of Leucoraja wallacei, also known as the Yellow spotted skate.

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Andocadoncum meganae from South Africa, a parasite of Leucoraja wallacei, also known as the Yellow spotted skate.

Platybothrium jondoeorum from Australia, a parasite of Carcharhinus melanopterus, also known as the Blacktip reef shark.

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Platybothrium jondoeorum from Australia, a parasite of Carcharhinus melanopterus, also known as the Blacktip reef shark.

Undescribed genus and species from Australia, a parasite of Rhina ancylostoma, also known as the Bowmouth guitarfish.

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Undescribed genus and species from Australia, a parasite of Rhina ancylostoma, also known as the Bowmouth guitarfish.

Before setting out to assemble a 400-page tome on tapeworms, it might be a good time for a gut check.

That’s what researchers from the University of Connecticut and University of Kansas have spent nearly a decade doing: collecting tapeworms from the digestive tracts of vertebrate species in 54 nations around the planet, on a scholarly mission to discover and describe cestodes, commonly called tapeworms.

More than 200 new species are described in the new book Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (2008-2017): Tapeworms from the Vertebrate Bowels of the Earth, co-edited by Janine Caira, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UConn, and Kirsten Jensen, professor of ecology and  evolutionary biology and senior curator at the Biodiversity Institute at KU. Jensen is a double UConn alumna, having earned her master of science degree in 1996, and her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology in 2001.

In addition to documenting new species, the book uses historical data and new collections to begin to generate estimates of total global tapeworm diversity and assess interrelationships at multiple levels.

To date, the researchers have counted almost 5,000 species of tapeworms, and they estimate there to be as many as 20,000 species. The vast majority don’t necessarily cause harm, or harm hasn’t been documented, say the editors.

The animals that most commonly host tapeworms include birds, sharks, stingrays, shrews, and catfish – and their tapeworms tend not to bother them.

What makes this book such an amazing resource, the editors say, is that it addresses most aspects for each tapeworm order that a reader might want to know – such as in what species they are found, where they are found throughout the world, and what the organisms look like.

This project was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF Nos. 0818696 & 0818823). The book may be downloaded free of charge at http://tapeworms.uconn.edu/finalpub.html.