Indocapillaria gibsoni n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) from the estuarine fish Sillaginopsis panijus (Hamilton) of West Bengal,India

A new nematode from the stomach of the estuarine fish Sillaginopsis panijus of West Bengal, India is described. The nematodes are characterised by small body size, the structure of the male tail (the presence of two large dorso-lateral caudal lobes bearing a distinct papilla on each and a pair of large subventral adanal papillae), the structure of the spicule (wider in proximal and distal regions and with smooth surface), the non-spinous spicular sheath, the structure of the stichosome (stichocytes number 25–32 and regularly aligned throughout the length of the oesophagus), the large bell-shaped vulvar appendage, and elongate-oval eggs with a thin wall and protruding polar plugs. A diagnosis of the new genus and a key to the genera of fish capillariids are provided.     

Paracapillaria xenentodoni n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) from the fishXenentodon cancila (Hamilton) from West Bengal,India

A new nematode,Paracapillaria xenentodoni n. sp. is described based on light microscope studies of the worms recovered from the migratory fishXenentodon cancila (Hamilton) from the Hooghly estuary at Kalyani, West Bengal, India. The worms are characterised by relatively large body size, the structure of the male caudal extremity (the presence of two wide, lobe-like, dorso-lateral caudal projections), the large size of the spicule (0.236–0.374 mm), the transversely wrinkled but non-spiny spicular sheath, the structure of the stichosome (30–40 stichocytes present), the slightly elevated anterior vulval lip, and the size (0.040–0.049 × 0.021–0.026 mm) and structure of the eggs. This represents the first species of the genusParacapillaria from India and also from fishes of the family Belonidae (Atheriniformes).     

Pseudocapillaria (Discocapillaria) margolisi n. subg., n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) from freshwater fishes of West Bengal,India

A new nematode,Pseudocapillaria (Discocapillaria) margolisi n. subg., n. sp., from the freshwater fishesPuntius conchonius, P. sophore andAmblypharyngodon mola of West Bengal, India is described. The presence of a ventral lobe-like elevation with two papillae and the absence of a dorsal cuticular membrane on the male tail are referred to as distinguishing features of the new subgenus. The parasite is also characterised by small body size, short and non-annulated stichocytes, a distinctly expanded and folded lobular rim of the proximal end of the spicule, and eggs with protruding polar plugs, all features in which it differs distinctly from other species of the genusPseudocapillaria.     

Microanatomy and cytochemistry of the gastro-respiratory tract of an air-breathing cobitidid fish,Lepidocephalichthys guntea

Gastro-respiratory tract of the loach,Lepidocephalichthys guntea has been studied with special reference to the nature of its mucus secreting epithelia. The mucous cells are strongly PAS-positive and their number per unit area (mm²) in the mucosal layers of oesophagus, intestinal bulb, intestine and rectum are 733, 531, 223 and 540, respectively. The air-breathing segment of the gut is completely devoid of neutral mucosubstances, and there is a predominance of acidic mucosubstances over the neutral ones throughout the digestive tube. The air-blood pathway of the accessory respiratory organ is about 2.6 μm which is higher than the values of air-breathing organs of other fishes.     

A new capillariid, Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) najae n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea), from an elapid snake in West Bengal, India

Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) najae n. sp. is described from specimens from the oesophagus of a single snake, Naja naja (fam. Elapidae), caught from a garden at Kalyani, West Bengal, India. It is characterised by possessing: a medium body size; sinuous muscular oesophagus; stichosome consisting of distinctly subannulated stichocytes (30–48 in number); male tail having a membranous bursa supported by two wide lateral rays with bluntly pointed distal ends and not reaching to the posterior margin of the bursa; long spicule with spatula-like extension of the proximal extremity; spicular surface transversely marked; non-spinous but transversely folded spicular sheath; vulval lips non-elevated or only anterior lip slightly elevated; and oval eggs with protruding polar plugs. This represents the first record of a capillariid worm from a snake of the family Elapidae.     

New species of Oswaldocruzia (Nematoda: Molineoidae), new species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae), and other helminths in Rana cf. forreri (Anura: Ranidae) from Costa Rica

Oswaldocruzia costaricensis n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines and Rhabdias savagei n. sp. (Rhabditida: Rhabdiasidae) from the lungs of Rana cf. forreri (Anura: Ranidae) are described and illustrated. Oswaldocruzia costaricensis represents the 77th species assigned to the genus and differs from the other Neotropical species in the genus by possessing a Type II bursa and long cervical alae. Rhabdias savagei represents the 47th species assigned to the genus and differs from other Neotropical species in the genus by possession of 4 lips and a postequatorial vulva. Rana cf. forreri was also found to harbor the trematodes, Haematoloechus parcivitellarius and Megalodiscus temperatus, the nematodes, Aplectana incerta, Aplectana itzocanensis, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Foleyellides striatus, Subulascaris falcaustriformis, and a larva of the nematode Brevimulticaecum sp. Cosmocerca panamaensis is considered to be a synonym of Cosmocerca podicipinus.     

The taxonomy of Capillaria spp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) in carnivorous mammals from Ontario,Canada

Summary Four species of Capillaria were found in eight species of wild carnivorous mammals (286 carcasses) taken in Ontario, Canada. C. plica was found in the urinary bladder of raccoon (Procyon lotor), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyote (Canis latrans), fisher (Martes pennanti) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis); C. putorii in the stomach and intestine of short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea), mink (M. vison), fisher, marten (Martes americana), striped skunk and raccoon; C. aerophila in the mucosa of the trachea and bronchi of red fox and marten and C. procyonis in the epithelial lining of the oesophagus of raccoon and striped skunk. All four Capillaria spp. are redescribed and specimens of each species from different host species are compared. A key to the identification of the above species as well as C. didelphis and C. hepatica is presented. Specimens of C. erinacei and additional material of C. putorii were obtained on loan. Specimens named C. mustelorum by previous authors were collected from carnivores in Ontario. C. mustelorum and C. erinacei are considered to be synonyms of C. putorii. The genus Capillaria is briefly reviewed historically and the recognition of other genera, based on single characters, is discussed and rejected. The possibility of accommodating the Capillaria spp. from Canadian carnivorous mammals in the sub-genera Capillaria and Thominx is discussed and dismissed. ac]19791022     

Loaches of the genus Lepidocephalichthys, from Manipur, with description of a new species

A new species Lepidocephalichthys manipurensis , is described, confined to the Chandel district of Manipur near the adjoining borderland areas of Manipur, India and Burma (Myanmar). It is distinguished by the following combination of characters: a sharp small black dot just above the upper base of the caudal fin; 8–9 dorsal short dark ashy brown bars from occiput to the base of the caudal fin; absence of scales on the vertex of head; caudal fin fork, pectoral, ventral and anal fins are non-immaculate; least depth of caudal peduncle 50·00–60·24% (mean 54·09) of its length and 7·69–8·11% L , S (mean 8·22); caudal fin with 4–5 W-shaped bands: a single dark black stripe from tip of snout to eye; 8–11 spots on the mid lateral line; and 30–31 vertebrae. A key to the identification of lepidocephalid loaches of Manipur is provided.     

A new species of Capillostrongyloides (Nematoda: Capillariidae) parasitizing the horsefish, Congiopodus peruvianus (Pisces: Congiopodidae), from Argentina

A new species of parasitic nematode, Capillostrongyloides congiopodi n. sp. (Capillariidae), is described based on specimens collected from the gall bladder of the horsefish, Congiopodus peruvianus Cuvier and Velenciennes (Congiopodidae, Scorpaeniformes), from the Patagonian Shelf, Argentina (45-48 degrees S; 60-64 degrees W). Among the 9 species described so far in the genus, the new species most closely resembles C. norvegica Moravec and Karlsbakk, 2000, by the presence of its conspicuously elevated anterior vulvar lip in females; however, it is readily distinguished from it by having a larger body size, larger eggs with protruding polar plugs, the shape and length of the spicule, and mainly by the general morphology of the caudal bursa of males. In addition, the site of infection, i.e., stomach versus gall bladder. This is the first Capillostrongyloides species reported from fishes in the southern Atlantic Ocean.     

Six new Richtersia species (Nematoda, Selachinematidae) from the Mediterranean Sea

Six new species of the genus Richtersia Steiner, 1916 are described from the Mediterranean Sea: R. bathyalis sp.n., R. spinosa sp.n., R. heipi sp.n., R. mediterranea sp.n., R. staresensis sp.n. and R. coomansi sp.n. Some morphological adaptations of R. bathyalis, R. spinosa and R. heipi are discussed in relation to their small body size. The structure of the stomatal region, labial region and spicules is described in detail and probably holds for the entire genus.     

Description of a new species of Thynnascaris Dollfus, 1933 (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the stomach of the marine teleost fish Rachycentron canadus (Linnaeus)

A new species of the nematode genus Thynnascaris obtained from the teleost Rachycentron canadus (Linnaeus) is reported. A detailed examination of this specimen has allowed us to erect a new species Thynnascaris to accommodate the worm. It shows remarkable differences from other known species of Thynnascaris in respect of body size, length of the oesophageal appendix and intestinal caecum, location of nerve ring and excretory pore, on the papillae on the lips arrangement, type of the striations on the cuticle, vulva position, arrangement of caudal papillae and size of the spicules. The new species is designated as Thynnascaris shyamasundarii.     

Three new species of Huffmanela Moravec, 1987 (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae) from the gills of marine fish off New Caledonia

Three new species of Huffmanela, here described from eggs only, are reported from the gills of marine fish caught off Nouméa, New Caledonia. Eggs of Huffmanela branchialis n. sp., from Nemipterus furcosus (Nemipteridae), are 45-52 (mean 48) microm in length and 23-30 (mean 25) microm in width, with thin shells. Each egg is enclosed in a thin membrane forming a spindle-shaped envelope 53-85 (mean 63) microm in length. Eggs of H. filamentosa n. sp., from Gymnocranius grandoculis (Lethrinidae), are 48-53 (mean 50) microm in length and 25-30 (mean 27) microm in width, with thin shells. Each egg bears a few long (150 microm), thin filaments. Eggs of these two new species were compared to those of H. paronai Moravec & Garibaldi, 2000, which are redescribed. Eggs of H. ossicola n. sp. were found within the branchial arch bone of Bodianus loxozonus (Labridae) and also filled the spinal chord bone and other bones. This is the first species of Huffmanela reported from bone tissue. Eggs are large, 72-88 (mean 79) microm in length and 32-40 (mean 36) microm in width, with a very thick shell. Each egg is covered with numerous filaments enclosed in a thin envelope. Fresh eggs were unembryonated, but embryos were visible after incubation in seawater. The three new species can be distinguished from other species of Huffmanela by size and the nature of the egg covering. Egg morphology of and their location in the host suggest different life-cycles: those of the first two species (small eggs, thin shells, egg covering possibly favouring flotation) are released from the gill mucosa with the turnover of living tissues and immediately continue their life-cycle, but eggs of H. ossicola (large eggs, thick shell) are only available for the continuation of the life-cycle after the host's death.     

Epsilonematidae (Nematoda) from Chiloé (southern Chile), with descriptions of two new species

From a sandy beach in southern Chile (Quellón Viejo, Chiloé Island) five species of the nematode family Epsilonematidae are described or redescribed: Bathyepsilonema spongiosum sp.n., Epsilonema dentaturn Lorenzen, 1973, E. serrulatum Lorenzen, 1973, Metepsilonema chilotum sp.n. and M. leptaleum Lorenzen, 1973. In the studied beach Epsilonematidae represent up to 33% of the interstitial nematodes. Epsilonema dentaturn is the most common species; in most of the samples, it represents more than 50% of all Epsilonematidae found. The epsilonematids occur mainly in a narrow zone at the midtidal level.     

Two new species of Xiphinema (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from Colombia

Summary Two new species of Xiphinema are described from Colombia. X. colombiense n.sp. is characterized by a continuous lip region, a median vulva with both genital tracts fully developed and without Z-differentiation, a total stylet length of 197–233 m and a short, rounded tail bearing two pairs of pores and with refractive lines leading through the cuticle to a terminal depression in the protoplasm; it is differentiated from X. clavatum Heyns, 1965, X. guirani Luc & Williams, 1978, X. pyrenaicum Dalmasso, 1969, X. silvaticum Luc & Williams, 1978 and X. yapoense Luc, 1958. X. riocaquetae n.sp. is distinguished from X. macrostylum Esser, 1966. ac]19810707     

A new species of Nothotylenchus (Nematoda: Neotylenchoidea) from England

Summary Nothotylenchus adasi n.sp. is described, from a Vale of York soil. N. adasi is distinctive generally by its large size, in possessing a long spear with flange-like knobs and a long post-vulval uterine sac. ac]19791030     

Description of a new species of Kathlania Lane, 1914 (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from the intestine of the marine fish Trichiurus muticus (Griffith).

Kathlania sprentii n. sp. is described from the intestine of a marine fish. Trichiurus muticus (Griffith) from the South coast of Indian Ocean, India. The new form differs from other known species of the genus in the presence of two rounded teeth-like structures in the buccal capsule, spicule ratio 1:4 and rod-shaped gubernaculum with bifurcated distal end.     

A new species of Paracapillaria (Nematoda: Capillariidae) parasitizing the Brazilian sandperch, Pinguipes brasilianus (Pisces: Pinguipedidae), from Argentina

A new species, Paracapillaria argentinensis n. sp., is described from the pinguipedid fish Pinguipes brasilianus Cuvier, 1829 from waters off Mar del Plata, Argentina (38 degrees 08'S, 57 degrees 32'W) (prevalence 22.2%; mean intensity +/- SD, 4.42 +/- 5.19). The new species is assigned to the subgenus Paracapillaria Moravec, 1987. Of the 10 species so far known in the subgenus, the new species more closely resembles P. (P.) plectroplites, from which it is distinguished by having a spicule with an expanded anterior end and a slender medial section. A similar spicular morphology is observed in P. (P.) epinephell; however, it shows shorter spicules and a highly reduced caudal bursa. This is the first record of Paracapillaria in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.     

Four new species of the family Desmodoridae (Nematoda, Desmodoroidea) from Kenya

Chromaspirina vanreuselae sp. n., Zalonema myrianae sp. n., Echinodesmodora moensi sp. n ., and Metachromadora (Bradylaimus) nyalii sp. n. are described from coarse coral sands in the intertidal zone of beaches along the Kenyan coast. In Chromaspirina vanreuselae sp. n., 15 cheilorhabdia (instead of 12 which is typical for the Chromadorina) are found in the cheilostome. Zalonema Cobb, 1920, is restored to the genus level. Comments are given on the term 'head region', and on ontogenetic transformations of some morphological characters, such as amphidial shape, presence, number and position of subcephalic setae, and tail shape.