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Six species of the genus Chordodes from Africa were investigated in order to certify their taxonomic descriptions and verify the species status. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the female of Chordodes congolensis has seven types of areoles, while the females of C. ferox have six and the male and females of C. madagascariensis have four and five areolar types, respectively. The females of these three species have polymorphic crowned areoles with both short and long filaments, these areoles are only observed along the ventral groove. The female of Chordodes mobensis has five areolar types and we found that crowned areoles were present in clusters of 10-12 areoles. Chordodes maculatus has been synonymized with C. kolensis and C. kakandensis with C. schoutedeni, because no differences could be detected that justify these species as valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species of the genus Chordodes from Africa are investigated in order to certify the taxonomic descriptions and verify the species status. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that the males of Chordodes clavatus and C. digitatus have five types of areoles, while the females of C. clavatus have seven areolar types and the females of C. digitatus have six areolar types. Chordodes capensis also shows this sexual dimorphism, as males have four types of areoles and females have five areolar types. The cuticle of Chordodes tuberculatus contains three areolar types. Chordodes ibembensis and C. uncinatus are synonimized with C. clavatus, because no differences can be detected that justify these species as valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty‐five species of Chordodes have been reported from Africa. The original description of several of these species is incomplete and needs reinvestigation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which allows the observation of fine structural details. We reinvestigated five of these species: Chordodes gariazzi , C. heinzei , C. kolensis , C. muelleri , and C. ruandensis . All of them show crowned areoles occurring in clusters. These clusters are formed by crowned areoles that are surrounded by another areolar type. The females of C. kolensis and C. muelleri have polymorphic crowned areoles with both short and long filaments; these areoles are only observed along the ventral groove. Chordodes gariazzi , C. heinzei , and C. muelleri have five areole types, C. ruandensis has three different types of areole, and C. kolensis displays a sexual dimorphism where males have six types of areole and females have seven areole types. Chordodes gariazzi , C heinzei , and C. muelleri have tubercle areoles. Host data and a new distribution record of C. kolensis are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]