Synonymy of Proteocephalus pollanicola Gresson, 1952 (Cestoda : Proteocephalidae), a parasite of pollan, Coregonus autumnalis pollan, with P-exiguus La Rue, 1911

The systematic status of the tapeworm Proteocephalus pollanicola Gresson, 1952, a parasite of pollan Coregonus autumnalis pollan Thompson, was evaluated on the basis of freshly collected material from the type-locality (Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland). Comparison of morphological, biometrical and DNA data (RAPD method) from P. pollanicola and from P. exiguus La Rue, 1911, a very common parasite of coregonid fish, did not find any substantial differences between them to confirm the validity of P. pollanicola. Accordingly, P pollanicola is considered to be a synonym of P exiguus, a widely distributed parasite in the Holarctic.