Kirsten Jensen

Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Senior Curator, Biodiversity Institute
Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 2001
Primary office:
785-864-5826
Haworth Hall

Dr. Jensen is a parasitologist specializing on coevolution and the systematics, diversity, and biogeography of the tapeworms that parasitize elasmobranchs.

Current Research Projects:

  • A survey of sharks and rays of Borneo and their metazoan parasites (see project website).
  • Towards the elucidation of life-cycles of tapeworms of elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) in the Gulf of Mexico (see project website).
  • A survey of the elasmobranchs and their metazoan parasites of Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan).
  • Taxonomy and diversity of lecanicephalidean cestodes from around the world.

For additional information on tapeworms of sharks and rays see www.tapeworms.org

Selected Publications

  • Caira, J. N., and Jensen, K. (2015). Insights on the identities of sharks of the Rhizoprionodon acutus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes) species complex based on three new species of Phoreiobothrium (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea). Zootaxa, 4059(2), 335–350. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26701566 doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4059.2.5
  • Caira, J. N., and Jensen, K. (2014). A digest of elasmobranch tapeworms. Journal of Parasitology, 100(4), 373-391. ISSN: 0022-3395
  • Jensen, K., Mojica, K. R., and Caira, J. N. (2014). A new genus and two new species of lecanicephalidean tapeworms from the striped panray, Zanobatus schoenleinii (Rhinopristiformes: Zanobatidae), off Senegal. Folia Parasitologica, 61(5), 432-440. ISSN: 0015-5683
  • Caira, J. N., Jensen, K., Waeschenbach, A., and Littlewood, D. T. J. (2014). An enigmatic new tapeworm (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda) from thresher sharks. Invertebrate Systematics, 28(3), 231–243
  • Cielocha, J. J., Jensen, K., and Caira, J. N. (2014). Floriparicapitus, a new genus of lecanicephalidean tapeworm (Cestoda) from sawfishes (Pristidae) and guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) in the Indo-West Pacific. Journal of Parasitology, 100(4), 485-499. ISSN: 0022-3395
  • Biserova, N. M., Kutyrev, I. A., and Jensen, K. (2014). GABA in the nervous system of the cestodes Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Diphyllobothriidea) and Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Caryophyllidea), with comparative analysis of muscle innervation. Journal of Parasitology, 100(4), 411-421. ISSN: 0022-3395
  • Caira, J. N., Jensen, K., Waeschenbach, A., Olson, P.D., and Littlewood, D. T. J. (2014). Orders out of chaos - molecular phylogenetics reveals the complexity of shark and stingray tapeworm relationships. International Journal for Parasitology, 44(1), 55-73. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020751913002725 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.10.004 ISSN: 0020-7519
  • Jensen, K., and Russell, S. L. (2014). Seussapex, a new genus of lecanicephalidean tapeworm (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) from the stingray genus Himantura (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae) in the Indo-West Pacific with investigation of mode of attachment. Folia Parasitologica, 61, 231-241.
  • Mojica, K. R., Jensen, K., and Caira, J. N. (2014). The ocellated eagle ray, Aetobatus ocellatus (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae), from Borneo and northern Australia as host of four new species of Hornellobothrium (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea). Journal of Parasitology, 100(4), 504-515. ISSN: 0022-3395
  • Cielocha, J. J., and K. Jensen. 2013. Stoibocephalum n. gen. (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from the sharkray, Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider (Elasmobranchii: Rhinopristiformes), from northern Australia. Zootaxa 3626(4): 558–568.
  • Mojica, K. R., K. Jensen, and J. N. Caira. 2013. Revision of Anteropora (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidean) and description of five new species from stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) in Borneo. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 61(2): 491–506.
  • Caira, J. N., F. P. L. Marques, K. Jensen, R. Kuchta, and V. Ivanov. 2013. Phylogenetic analysis and reconfiguration of genera in the cestode order Diphyllidea. International Journal for Parasitology 43(8): 621–639.
  • Cielocha, J. J., A. Yoneva, M. E. Cantino, S. Daniels, and K. Jensen. 2013. Ultrastructure of the sperm of Adelobothrium sp. (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea). Invertebrate Biology 132(4): 315-325.
  • Caira, J. N., K. Jensen, A. Waeschenbach, P. D. Olson, and D. T. J. Littlewood. 2014. Orders out of chaos – molecular phylogenetics reveals the complexity of shark and stingray tapeworm relationships. International Journal for Parasitology 44(1): 55–73.
  • Koch, K. R., K. Jensen, and J. N. Caira. 2012. "Three new genera and six new species of lecanicephalideans (Cestoda) from eagle rays of the genus Aetomylaeus (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae) from northern Australia and Borneo" Journal of Parasitology. 98(1). 175-198.
  • Borucinska, J., J. J. Cielocha, and K. Jensen. 2012. "The parasite-host interface in the zonetail butterfly ray Gymnura zonura, infected with Hexacanalis folifer (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea)" Journal of Fish Diseases.
  • Naylor, G. J. P. N., J. N. Caira, K. Jensen, K. A. M. Rosana, N. Straube, and C. Lakner. 2012. "Elasmobranch phylogeny: A mitochondrial estimate based on 595 species" Biology of Sharks and Rays and Their Relatives. edited by Carrier, J. C., J. A. Musick, and M. R. Heithaus. 31-56.
  • Caira, J. N., C. J. Healy, and K. Jensen. 2012. "An updated look at elasmobranchs as hosts of metazoan parasites" Biology of Sharks and Rays and Their Relatives. edited by Carrier, J. C., J. A. Musick, and M. R. Heithaus. 547-578.
  • Naylor, G. J. P. N., J. N. Caira, K. Jensen, K. A. M. Rosana, W. T. White, and P. R. Last. 2012. "A DNA sequence based approached to the identification of shark and ray species and its implications for global elasmobranch diversity and parasitology" Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 367. 1-262.
  • Cielocha, J. J. and K. Jensen. 2012. "Stoibocephalum n. gen. (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from the sharkray, Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider (Elasmobranchii: Rhinopristiformes), from northern Australia" Zootaxa. 3626(4). 558-568.
  • Marques, F. P. L., K. Jensen, and J. N. Caira. 2012. "Ahamulina n. gen. (Cestoda: Diphyllidea) from the Polkadot catshark, Scyliorhinus besnardi (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae), in Brazil" Zootaxa. 3352. 51-59.
  • Cielocha, J. J. and K. Jensen. 2011. "A revision of Hexacanalis (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) and description of Hexacanalis folifer n. sp. from the zonetail butterfly ray, Gymnura zonura (Bleeker) (Rajiformes: Gymnuridae)" Systematic Parasitology. 79. 1-16.
  • Jensen, K., P. Nikolov, and N. Caira. 2011. "A new genus and two new species of Anteroporidae (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from the darkspotted numbfish, Narcine maculata (Torpediniformes: Narcinidae), off Malaysian Borneo" Folia Parasitologica. 58(2). 95-107.
  • Last, P. R. et al. 2010. "Sharks and Rays of Borneo" 304.
  • Olson, P. D., J. N. Caira, K. Jensen, R. M. Overstreet, H. W. Palm, and I. Beveridge. 2010. "Evolution of the trypanorhynch tapeworms: Parasite phylogeny supports independent lineages of sharks and rays" International Journal for Parasitology. 40(2). 223-242.
  • White, W. T., P. R. Last, G. J. P. N. Naylor, K. Jensen, and J. N. Caira. 2010. "Clarification of Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823) as a valid species, and a comparison with Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) (Rajiformes: Myliobatidae)" Descriptions of Sharks and Rays of Borneo. edited by Last, P. R., W. T. White, and J. J. Pogonoski. 141-164.
  • Jensen, K. and S. A. Bullard. 2010. "Characterization of a diversity of tetraphyllidean and rhinebothriidean cestode larval types, with comments on host associations and life-cycles" International Journal for Parasitology. 40(8). 889-910.
  • Healy, C. J., J. N. Caira, K. Jensen, B. L. Webster, and D. T. J. Littlewood. 2009. "Proposal for the new tapeworm order Rhinebothriidea" International Journal for Parasitology. 39(4). 497-511.
  • Bullard, S. A., K. Jensen, and R. M. Overstreet. 2009. "Historical account of the two family-group names in use for the single accepted family comprising the “fish blood flukes”" Acta Parasitologica. 54(1). 78-84.
  • Fyler, C. A., J. N. Caira, and K. Jensen. 2009. "Five new species ofAcanthobothrium (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from an unusual species of Himantura (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) from northern Australia" Folia Parasitologica. 56(2). 107-128.
  • Caira, J. N. and K. Jensen. 2009. "Erection of Triloculatum n. gen. (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) and description of five new species from whaler sharks (Carcharhinidae)" Journal of Parasitology. 95(4). 924-940.
  • Jensen, K.. 2009. "Cestoda (Platyhelminthes) of the Gulf of Mexico" Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters and Biota: Biodiversity, Volume 1. edited by Felder, D. L. and D. A. Camp. 487-522.
  • Bullard, S. A., S. D. Snyder, K. Jensen, and R. M. Overstreet. 2008. "New genus and species of Aporocotylidae (Digenea) from a lower actinopterygian, the American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, (Acipernseriformes: Polyodontidae) from the Mississippi Delta" Journal of Parasitology. 94(2). 487-495.
  • Bullard, S. A. and K. Jensen. 2008. "Blood flukes (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) of stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae): Orchispirium heterovitellatum from Himantura imbricata in the Bay of Bengal and Myliobaticola richardheardi n. gen., n. sp. from Dasyatis sabina in the Northern Gulf of Mexico" Journal of Parasitology. 94(6). 1113-1321.
  • Jensen, K. and J. N. Caira. 2008. "A revision of Uncibilocularis Southwell, 1925 (Tetraphyllidea; Onchobothriidae) with the description of four new species" Comparative Parasitology. 75(2). 157-173.
  • Caira, J. N., K. Jensen, and C. Rajan. 2007. "Seven new Yorkeria species (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from Borneo and Australia and their implications for identification of Chiloscyllium (Elasmobranchii, Orectolobiformes) species" Journal of Parasitology. 93(2). 357-376.
  • Jensen, K. and J. N. Caira. 2006. "The status of Rhoptrobothrium Shipley et Hornell, 1906 (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea), with redescription of the type species R. myliobatidis, and description of three new species from eagle rays in the genus Aetomylaeus from Malaysian Borneo" Folia Parasitologica. 53. 189-207.
  • Jensen, K.. 2006. "A new species of Aberrapex Jensen, 2001 (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from Taeniura lymma (Forsskål) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), from Sabah, Malaysia" Systematic Parasitology. 64(2). 117-123.
  • Jensen, K. and P. S. Sadeghian. 2005. "Nemertea" Marine Parasitology. edited by Rohde, K.. 205-210.
  • Jensen, K. and R. L. Palma. 2005. "Insecta" Marine Parasitology. edited by Rohde, K.. 226-230.
  • Jensen, K.. 2005. "Echiura" Marine Parasitology. edited by Rohde, K.. 246-248.
  • Jensen, K.. 2005. "A Monograph on the Lecanicephalidea (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda)" 18. 240.
  • Caira, J. N., K. Jensen, and K. E. Holsinger. 2003. "On a new index of host specificity" Taxonomie, écologie et évolution des métazoaires parasites: Livre hommage à Louis Euzet. edited by Combes, C. and J. Jourdane. 1. 161-201.
  • Siddall, M. E. and K. Jensen. 2003. "Incorrect assessment of the information value of multistate characters" Cladistics. 19. 269-272.
  • Caira, J. N., K. Jensen, and C. J. Healy. 2001. "Interrelationships among tetraphyllidean and lecanicephalidean cestodes" Interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes. edited by Littlewood, D. T. J. and R. Bray. 135-158.
  • Jensen, K.. 2001. "Four new genera and five new species of lecanicephalideans (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from elasmobranchs in the Gulf of California, Mexico" Journal of Parasitology. 87. 845-861.
  • Caira, J. N. and K. Jensen. 2001. "An investigation of the coevolutionary relationships between onchobothriid tapeworms and their elasmobranch hosts" International Journal for Parasitology. 31. 959-974.
  • Caira, J. N., K. Jensen, and C. J. Healy. 1999. "On the phylogenetic relationships among tetraphyllidean, lecanicephalidean and diphyllidean tapeworm genera" Systematic Parasitology. 42. 77-151.
  • Caira, J. N., K. Jensen, Y. Yamane, A. Isobe, and K. Nagasawa. 1997. "On the tapeworms of Megachasma pelagios: Description of a new genus and species of lecanicephalidean and additional information on the trypanorhynch Mixodigma leptaleum" Biology of the Megamouth shark. edited by Yano, K., J. F. Morrissey, Y. Yabumoto, and K. Nakaya. 181-191.

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