Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sciadicleithrum</Emphasis> (Monogenea,Dactylogyridae) parasites of Neotropical cichlid fishes from the Paraná River,Brazil

Two new species of Sciadicleithrum are described from the gills of Neotropical cichlid fishes collected from Paraná River, Brazil. Sciadicleithrum satanopercae sp. nov. is described from the gills of Satanoperca pappaterra and differs from congeners by having a dorsal anchor with the distal portion complex and the inner margin with a “denticulum” between shaft and point. Sciadicleithrum joanae sp. nov. is described from the gills of Crenicichla niederleinii and C. britskii collected from Paraná River. Sciadicleithrum joanae sp. nov. differs from congeners by having a male copulatory organ comprising about half a clockwise loop and a vaginal pore “bulb-shaped”.     

Falcaustra donanaensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) a parasite of Mauremys leprosa (Testudines, Bataguridae) in Spain

Falcaustra donanaensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Mauremys leprosa (Testudines, Bataguridae) is described. By the absence of pseudosucker, arrangement of the male caudal papillae and the size of the spicules Falcaustra donanaensis sp. nov. resembles only to Falcaustra washingtonensis [Bursey and Aker (2001) J Parasitol 87:1082–1084], a species from Ambistoma tigrinum melanostictum in the Nearctic Region. Papillae pattern in the male of F. washingtonensis is similar to F. donanaensis, but differs by the presence of a median papilla in the American species, length of pharynx, spicule, and gubernacle in males, size of eggs, and number of eggs in female. This is the first species of Falcaustra reported in freshwater turtles in the Iberian Peninsula.     

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Raphidascaris</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from marine fishes from the South China Sea

A new anisakid nematode, Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) longispicula sp. nov., is described from the intestine and stomach of the marine fish Uroconger lepturus (Richardson) (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the South China Sea (Guangdong and Hainan Province, respectively). The new species differs from all congeners in the subgenus Ichthyascaris by the short ventricular appendix (0.36–0.49 mm long), the number and arrangement of caudal papillae (25–28 pairs of preanal, 1–2 pairs of paranal, and 6–8 pairs of postanal), and the very long spicules (1.13–1.32 mm long, representing 9.34–10.3% of body length). The sequences of the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA of R. (I.) longispicula sp. nov. are analyzed and compared with the closely related nematode sequences. Molecular analyses seem to support the validity of this new nematode species based on morphological observation.     

A new species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) and other helminths from Genyophryne thomsoni (Anura, Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Cosmocerca tyleri sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Genyophryne thomsoni (Anura, Microhylidae) is described and illustrated. Cosmocerca tyleri sp. nov. represents the 23rd species assigned to the genus and the 6th from the Australian realm. Of the 5 Australian species previously described, C. tyleri sp. nov. differs from C. limnodynastes and C. novaeguineae in number of plectanes, 4 pairs in C. tyleri, 5 pairs in C. limnodynastes and C. novaeguineae. Cosmocerca australis has 3–4 pairs of plectanes, C. archeyi and C. zugi each have 4 pairs of plectanes; however, in each species the plectanes lie in the fourth quarter of the body and just anterior to the cloaca. In C. tyleri sp. nov. the plectanes lie in the third quarter of the body and there is significant space between the cloaca and the posterior pair of plectanes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cosmocerca kalesari</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Nematoda,Cosmocercidae) in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis</Emphasis> (Amphibia,Anura) from Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary,Haryana, India

Cosmocerca kalesari sp. nov. from the large intestine of frogs, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, collected in the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, India is described and photomicrographed. It is most similar to those species bearing 5 pairs of plectanes, i.e., C. acanthurum, C. banyulensis, C. cruzi, C. japonica, C. ornata, C. novaeguineae, C. paraguayensis, C. parva, C. podicipinus and C. travassosi, but differs from these species with the exception of C. cruzi and C. japonica in the length of spicules and length of gubernaculum. The new species can be separated from C. cruzi and C. japonica by the arrangement of postanal mammiliform papillae: 6 postanal pairs in C. kalesari sp. nov.; 4 postanal pairs in C. cruzi; no postanal mammiliform papillae in C. japonica. Cosmocerca kalesari sp. nov. represents the 25th species assigned to the genus, but only the second species from the Oriental region.     

Description of a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tylodelphys</Emphasis> (Digenea,Diplostomidae) in the wood stork, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycteria americana</Emphasis> (Aves,Ciconiidae) from Argentina

During the course of a study on the endohelminth parasites of birds, specimens of an undescribed species of Tylodelphys Diesing, 1850 (Diplostomidae) were collected from the wood stork, Mycteria americana L., from Formosa Province, Argentina. Tylodelphys brevis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other Neotropical species of this genus, T. elongata, T. americana and T. adulta, principally by the smaller size of the body (570–851 μm), by the fewer eggs in the uterus (1–2) and by the smaller ratio of body to egg length (6–8). This is the second report of an adult of the genus Tylodelphys from Argentina and the first record of a digenean species parasitizing Mycteria americana in this country.     

Gastrointestinal helminths from two species of skink from Papua New Guinea, including two new species of Skrjabinodon (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae)

Skrjabinodon derooijae sp. nov. from the large intestine of Papuascincus stanleyanus (Scincidae) and Skrjabinodon sheai sp. nov. from the large intestine of Emoia pallidiceps (Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea are described and illustrated. Skrjabinodon derooijae sp. nov. and S. sheai sp. nov. represent the 27th and 28th species assigned to the genus and the 8th and 9th species from the Australo-Papuan Region. The new species differ from other species assigned to Skrjabinodon by egg and female tail morphology. The eggs of S. derooijae are spindleform with one truncate end and the female tail bears 13–16 tail spines in a defined pattern. The eggs of S. sheai are lagenoid and the female tail bears 12–16 tail spines in a random pattern. In addition to the new species, E. pallidiceps harboured Physalopteroides milnensis and P. stanleyanus harboured Mesocelium monas and Oswaldocruzia bakeri.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heligmosomoides</Emphasis> (Nematoda,Heligmosomidae) parasitic in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peromyscus maniculatus</Emphasis> (Rodentia,Cricetidae) from Pennsylvania,USA

Heligmosomoides vandegrifti sp. nov. (Nematoda, Heligmosomidae) is described from Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae) from Pennsylvania, USA. It differs from its closest congener, H. douglasi, in the number of cuticular ridges (35 vs. 32 in male, 36 vs. 41 in female at mid-body), longer bursal rays 2 in relation to rays 3, and in having smaller spicules (635–740 μm long vs. 1 mm). It is proposed that both H. douglasi and H. vandegrifti sp. nov. are parasites of capture from species in North American arvicoline rodents.     

Description of two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhadinorhynchus</Emphasis> (Acanthocephala,Rhadinorhynchidae) from marine fish in Halong Bay,Vietnam, with a key to species

Two rhadinorhynchid species of acanthocephalans, Rhadinorhynchus dorsoventrospinosus sp. nov. and Rhadinorhynchus laterospinosus sp. nov. are described from the redtail scad, Decapterus kurroides Bleeker, and the trigger fish Balistes sp., respectively. The hosts were collected off Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay, Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam in May, 2009. This brings the total number of species of Rhadinorhynchus Lühe, 1911 to 38. Specimens of the first species are characterized by having 11–12 proboscis hook rows with 30–31 hooks each, large dorsal and ventral spines in the posterior field of trunk spines, large eggs (100 × 20), and subterminal gonopore in both males and females. It is further characterized by many prominent fragmented nuclei in the body wall. The 1 female of the second species has 18 proboscis hook rows with 24 hooks each, smaller eggs (62 × 17), lateral trunk spines connecting those in the anterior and the posterior fields, and subterminal female gonopore. Notes on the genus Rhadinorhynchus, lists of the invalid and valid species, and a key to species are provided. Raorhynchus Tripathi, 1959 is proposed to be a junior synonym of Rhadinorhynchus pending a revision of the species of Raorhynchus.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mathevotaenia</Emphasis> (Cestoda,Anoplocephalidae, Linstowiinae) from the lizard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sceloporus malachiticus</Emphasis> (Squamata,Phrynosomatidae) from Panama

Mathevotaenia panamaensis sp. nov. (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae, Linstowiinae) from a green spiny lizard, Sceloporus malachiticus, collected in Panama is described. This is the first species of Mathevotaenia reported from a lizard host. The new species is most similar to Mathevotaenia bivittata in that mature eggs are concentrated along the lateral margins of the proglottids. Major differences between the two species include oval cirrus sac in M. bivittata, a spherical cirrus sac in M. panamaensis; ovary compact consisting of 10–15 short lobules in M. bivittata, ovary bilobed with each lobe consisting of 3–4 lobules in M. panamaensis.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Falcaustra</Emphasis> (Nematoda,Kathlaniidae) and other nematodes from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphenomorphus simus</Emphasis> (Squamata,Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

Falcaustra papuensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Sphenomorphus simus (Squamata, Sciencidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra papuensis represents the 4th Australo-Papuan species assigned to this genus and is distinguished from other Australo-Papuan species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 6 adcloacal, 8 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (561–714 μm) and presence of a pseudosucker. Sphenomorphus simus was found to harbor 2 additional species of nematodes, Meteterakis crombiei and Oswaldocruzia bakeri. Sphenomorphus simus represents a new host record for each of these nematode species.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Falcaustra</Emphasis> (Nematoda,Kathlaniidae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cnemaspis</Emphasis> aff. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tro pidogaster</Emphasis> (Squamata,Gekkonidae) from Sri Lanka

Falcaustra desilvai sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Cnemaspis aff. tropidogaster (Squamata, Gekkonidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra desilvai represents the 4th nematode species from Sri Lanka to be assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Sri Lankan species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (12 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 10 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (956–1046 μm) and absence of a pseudosucker.     

A new species of Thelandros (Nematoda, Oxyuroidea, Pharyngodonidae) in Leiolepis reevesi (Sauria, Agamidae) from Vietnam

Thelandros vietnamensis sp. nov. (Oxyuroidea, Pharyngodonidae) from the intestines of an agamid lizard, Leiolepis reevesi, collected in Vietnam is described and illustrated. Thelandros vietnamensis represents the 3rd Oriental species to be described and is distinguished from all other species by length of spicule (485–536 μm) of the male; all other species have spicules less than 200 μm.     

Some gonad-infecting species of Philometra (Nematoda, Philometridae) from offshore fishes of South Carolina and Georgia, USA, including Philometra charlestonensis sp. nov. from the scamp Mycteroperca phenax

Three gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 were, for the first time, recorded from perciform fishes from estuarine and marine waters in South Carolina and Georgia, USA: Philometra charlestonensis sp. nov. from the scamp Mycteroperca phenax (Jordan et Swain) (Serranidae), P. saltatrix Ramachandran, 1973 from the bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) (Pomatomidae), and Philometra sp. from the Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus (Linnaeus) (Sciaenidae). The new species is characterized mainly by males (body length 2.65–3.14 mm) with equally long, needle-like spicules (length 132–141 μm) and the gubernaculum (81–93 μm) bearing dorsal transverse lamella-like structures on its distal portion, the body length of gravid females (168–247 mm), the presence of a well-developed anterior bulbous inflation on the female oesophagus, and by the length of the first-stage larvae (544–597 μm). A key to gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitizing marine and brackish-water fishes is provided.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hysterothylacium</Emphasis> (Ascaridoidea,Anisakidae) parasitic in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zenopsis conchifer</Emphasis> (Zeiformes,Zeidae) from Argentinean waters

A new species of parasitic nematode, Hysterothylacium spirale sp. nov. (Ascaridoidea, Anisakidae), is described based on specimens collected from the intestine and pyloric caeca of the silvery john dory Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe) (Zeiformes, Zeidae), from the Argentinean Shelf (35°05′–40°46′S, 53°03′–58°07′W). Among the 66 valid species described so far in the genus, the new species most closely resembles H. zenis (Baylis, 1929). Both species, apparently specific for fishes of the family Zeidae, share the shape of the dorsal lip, the long expanded lateral alae originating from subventral interlabia and the ornamentation of the tail tip, as well as general morphometry. The combination of these shared features distinguishes both species from all congeners so far known. However, the new species is distinguishable from H. zenis by having shorter interlabia, and consequently the lateral alae originating more posteriorly, shorter spicules, a smaller number of postcloacal papillae and the presence of two pairs of double postcloacal papillae.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cameronia</Emphasis> Basir, 1948 (Oxyurida,Thelastomatoidea, Thelastomatidae) from Manipur,North-East India

During a survey of insect nematodes from Manipur, two new species of nematodes parasitic in the hindgut of mole cricket Gryllotalpa africana were recovered. The two new species are designated as Cameronia triovata sp. nov. and Cameronia manipurensis sp. nov. C. triovata sp. nov. is characterized by presence of three eggs which are fused on lateral sides by ridges and furrows and presence of polar egg filaments while in C. manipurensis sp. nov., the eggs are more than five in one group and attached simply one upon another. A comparative measurement chart (see Table I) as well as key to the species of Cameronia have been provided. The diagnosis of the genus has been emended in order to accommodate the two new species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Maxvachonia ingens</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Nematoda,Cosmocercidae) in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litoria darlingtoni</Emphasis> (Anura,Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. from the intestines of Litoria darlingtoni (Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. represents the 7th species assigned to the genus and the 5th from the Australo-Papuan Region. The new species differs from other species assigned to Maxvachonia by the position of the vulva in the female (the only species with a post-oesophageal position) and the spicule/gubernaculum ratio of the male (the only species with ratio greater than 1). Females of the new species are most similar to M. dimorpha and M. ewersi in that the posterior ends of these three species are rounded. These species are easily separated: M. ewersi possesses lateral alae, the other 2 do not; the posterior end of M. dimorpha terminates in a mucro, M. ingens sp. nov. lacks terminal ornamentation.     

New philometrids (Nematoda,Philometridae) from head tissues of two serranid fishes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus morio</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycteroperca microlepis</Emphasis>) off Florida,northern Gulf of Mexico

A new species of nematode, Philometra morii sp. nov. (Philometridae), is described from males and gravid females collected from the mouth cavity of the red grouper, Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes) (Serranidae, Perciformes), from the northen Gulf of Mexico, off Florida, USA. The new species is characterized mainly by the length of spicules (84–90 and 72–87 μm) and the length (54 μm) and structure of the gubernaculum in the male, and by the presence of three large oesophageal teeth protruding from the mouth, the number and arrangement of small cephalic papillae (8 papillae in 4 pairs of external circle and 6 single papillae of internal circle), the length (1.09–1.50 mm) and structure of the oesophagus and two large papilla-like caudal projections, and by the length of their bodies (19.34–30.07 mm). Philometra morii is the third species of this genus reported from E. morio in the Gulf of Mexico, differing from the two previously described species, in addition to morphological features, by the site of infection in this host (mouth cavity and sinuses vs oculo-orbits or gonads). From the same region (northern Gulf of Mexico, off Florida), gravid females of Philometra Costa, 1845, morphologically and biometrically similar to those of P. morii, were found in the subcutaneous tissues and sinuses of the head of another serranid fish (gag), Mycteroperca microlepis (Good et Bean). Although their conspecificity with P. morii cannot be excluded, they have been designated as Philometra sp. until conspecific males are discovered and described. Based on light and scanning electron microscopy examination (latter used only for females), both these forms are described.