A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda: Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) in Latastia longicaudata (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Kenya

A new species of Spauligodon , Spauligodon latasticola n. sp., from the intestines of Latastia longicaudata (Lacertidae) from Kenya is described and illustrated. Spauligodon latasticola represents the 47th species assigned to the genus and the 8th species from the Ethiopian region. The new species differs from all but 2 other species assigned to Spauligodon by the presence of a conically tapering tail in the female. The new species is separated from the 2 similar species, Spauligodon garciaprietoi and Spauligodon goldbergi, by the position of the vulva, which is anterior to the esophageal bulb in the new species, at the level of the esophageal bulb in S. goldbergi, and posterior to the esophageal bulb in S. garciaprietoi.     

Helminths of Cnemidophorus ruthveni (Squamata: Teiidae) from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, with description of a new species of Alaeuris (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae)

Alaeuris rinconensis n. sp. (Oxyuroidea, Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of the Bonaire whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus ruthveni, is described and illustrated. Alaeuris rinconensis n. sp. represents the 13th Neotropical species assigned to the genus. It is most similar to Alaeuris iguanae in that only these 2 Neotropical species have postbulbar excretory pores; in A. iguanae, a tail filament is absent; in A. rinconensis, a tail filament is present. Two additional helminth species were found, i.e., the cestode Oochoristica iguanae and a nematode, Ozolaimus megatyphlon. Cnemidoporus ruthveni represents a new host record for the latter 2 species.     

Two new species of Pharyngodonidae (Nematoda: Oxyuroidea) and other nematodes in Agama caudospina (Squamata: Agamidae) from Kenya, Africa

Parapharyngodon kenyaensis n. sp. and Thelandros samburuensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of the agamid lizard (Agama caudospina) are described and illustrated. Parapharyngodon kenyaensis n. sp. is the 41st species assigned to the genus, and it differs from other species in that genus by possessing 3 pairs of caudal papillae, cloacal lip adornment, and spicules of 112-120 microm in length. Thelandros samburuensis n. sp. is the 31st species assigned to the genus, and it differs from other species in that genus by possessing swollen posterior annulations, 6 caudal papillae, a smooth anterior cloacal lip, and spicules of 43-52 microm in length. In addition to the 2 new nematode species, Abbreviata ortleppi (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) and Strongyluris ornata (Nematoda: Heterakidae) were found.     

A new species of Pharyngodonidae (Nematoda) of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata:Tropiduridae) from Brazil

Parapharyngodon bainae n. sp. (Nematoda:Pharyngodonidae) collected from the small intestine of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata:Tropiduridae) is described. The new species is the 47 th species in the genus and the 14 th in the Neotropical region. The morphology of male posterior end, ovary position in females, and egg size can be used to differentiate P. bainae from the other congeneric species. Parapharyngodon rotundatus , Parapharyngodon sanisfaciecaudus , and Parapharyngodon riojensis are most closely related to P. bainae. In males of P. sanisfaciecaudus and P. rotundatus , the cloacal lip has a smooth appearance, whereas in P. bainae , males have an echinate cloacal lip. Parapharyngodon riojensis differs from P. bainae because its females have postbulbar ovaries, the eggs are larger, and the esophagi are larger in both sexes. Parapharyngodon spp. nematodes occupy an intermediate phylogenetic position among pharyngodonid parasite lineages in carnivorous and herbivorous reptiles. The average low intensity of infection for P. bainae (4.8 ± 4.6) is typically found in carnivorous reptiles. This fact and the high prevalence value (60%) can be explained by the ingestion of environmental substrata material containing parasite eggs while foraging.     

A new species of Thecadactylus from Sint Maarten, Lesser Antilles (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae)

We describe a new species of Thecadactylusfrom the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. The new species differs from all other species in the genus by having a distinct dorsal pattern of numerous irregular but sharply deliminated black spots and blotches on an otherwise almost patternless background.     

A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) parasite of Cnemidophorus spp. (Lacertilia: Teiidae) from southern Mexico

A new species of Spauligodon collected from Cnemidophorus mexicanus and C. deppii is described in this study. The species is placed in Spauligodon because the caudal alae start at the level of the precloacal papillae and embed the adcloacal papillae. The new species is most similar to S. goldbergi, but diagnostic traits of the former are the presence of 2 ridges in lateral alae, flaplike expansions in the caudal end of lateral alae, and a smooth tail for males. This species is the eighth recorded in the neotropics.     

New species of Spauligodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) in Lepidodactylus novaeguineae (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea

Spauligodon zweifeli n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestines of a gecko, Lepidodactylus novaeguineae (Sauria: Gekkonidae), is described and illustrated. Prevalence of infection was 57% (mean intensity 8.5, range 1-23). Spauligodon zweifeli n. sp. is the 43rd species to be assigned to this genus and differs from other species in the genus by possessing asymmetrical fusiform eggs in which the ends are extended as digitiform processes. It is the second species to be described from the Australian biogeographical realm.     

A new species of Habralictus Moure from Dominica, Lesser Antilles (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

A new species of Habralictus Moure (Apoidea, Halictidae) is described from the island of Dominica, Habralictus gonzalezisp. n. The species is distinguished from other West Indian Habralictus and a key is provided to the West Indian Habralictus. Brief comments on the genus Habralictus and bee species of Dominica are provided.     

Helminths of Pholidobolus montium (Sauria: Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador with description of a new species of Skrjabinodon (Nematoda: Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae)

Skrjabinodon aspercaudus n. sp. from the large intestine of Pholidobolus montium (Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador is described and illustrated. Skrjabinodon aspercaudus represents the 29th species assigned to the genus and the 6th species from the neotropical region. The new species differs from all other species assigned to Skrjabinodon by the presence of small bosses on the surface of the tail filament of both males and females. In addition to the new species, P. montium harbored the cestode, Cairaella henrii, and third-stage larvae of a species of Physaloptera.     

New species of Skrjabinodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) in Uracentron flaviceps (Squamata: Iguanidae) from Ecuador and Peru

Skrjabinodon dixoni n. sp. from the large intestine of Uracentron flaviceps (Squamata: Iguanidae) from Peru is described and illustrated. It is also reported in the same host from Ecuador. Skrjabinodon dixoni n. sp. differs from other species assigned to Skrjabinodon by morphology of tail filament and number of tail filament spines.     

Tertiary climate change and the diversification of the Amazonian gecko genus Gonatodes (Sphaerodactylidae, Squamata)

The genus Gonatodes is a monophyletic group of small-bodied, diurnal geckos distributed across northern South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. We used fragments of three nuclear genes (RAG2, ACM4, and c-mos) and one mitochondrial gene (16S) to estimate phylogenetic relationships among Amazonian species of Gonatodes. We used Penalized Likelihood to estimate timing of diversification in the genus. Most cladogenesis occurred in the Oligocene and early Miocene and coincided with a burst of diversification in other South American animal groups including mollusks, birds, and mammals. The Oligocene and early Miocene were periods dominated by dramatic climate change and Andean orogeny and we suggest that these factors drove the burst of cladogenesis in Gonatodes geckos as well as other taxa. A common pattern in Amazonian taxa is a biogeographic split between the eastern and western Amazon basin. We observed two clades with this spatial distribution, although large differences in timing of divergence between the east-west taxon pairs indicate that these divergences were not the result of a common vicariant event.     

Two new species of Charianthus (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) from the Lesser Antilles

In the course of a phylogenetic analysis and systematic revision ofCharianthus, it was discovered thatC. purpureus, as traditionally circumscribed, is polyphyletic, consisting of three morphologically diagnosable entities. Thus two new species,Charianthus dominicensis andC. grenadensis, are described and illustrated. Each is endemic to the Lesser Antillean island for which it is named—Dominica and Grenada, respectively.Charianthus, the only vascular plant genus endemic to the Lesser Antilles, comprises six species of nectariferous, hummingbird-pollinated shrubs and small trees.     

A new species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) in Calotes versicolor (Squamata: Agamidae) from Singapore

Rhabdias singaporensis n. sp. (Rhabditida: Rhabdiasidae) from the lungs of Calotes versicolor (Squamata: Agamidae) from Singapore is described and illustrated. Rhabdias singaporensis n. sp. represents the 77th species assigned to the genus, the eighth of the Asian region, and the second from Singapore. The distinguishing characteristic of the new species is the location of the excretory pore. In all species of Rhabdias for which excretory pore location data are available, the excretory pore is situated just posterior to the level of the nerve ring; in R. singaporensis , it lies near the esophageointestinal junction.     

Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) parasite of Podarcis sicula (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy

A new species of an oxyurid nematode is described from the large intestine of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque. 1810) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy. Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by a combination of morphological and metrical characters, including a spined tail in males and females, absence of a spicule in males, arrangement of the last pair of the male caudal papillae, vulva location, and egg morphology. The species most similar to S. aloisei n. sp. is Spauligodon caspius Annayev, 1987, described from Tenuidactylus (=Gymnodactylus) caspius in Turkmenistan. Tail length and location of the excretory pore and vulvar opening separate S. caspius from S. aloisei n. sp. This article increases the number of species of this genus from reptiles in the Paleartic Realm to 19.     

Spauligodon ovifilus n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) and other helminths from Diplodactylus stenodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Australia

Spauligodon ovifilus n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestines of the gecko Diplodactylus stenodactylus is described and illustrated. Prevalence of infection was 50% (mean intensity 5.9 +/- 6.3, range 1-21). Spauligodon ovifilus n. sp. represents the thirty-fifth species to be assigned to this genus and is distinguished by the extremely long filament of the egg. This is the first report of species of Spauligodon from Australia. In addition, 1 gecko harbored 1 female of Wanaristrongylus papangawurpae, a new host record; 1 gecko harbored 1 encapsulated larva of Abbreviata sp. Review of species assigned to Spauligodon caused the reclassification of Spauligodon azerbajdzanicus to Skrjabinodon azerbajdzanicus n. comb.     

Spauligodon loboi n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) parasite of Liolaemus spp. (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from northwestern Argentina

Three-hundred and forty-nine specimens of Spauligodon loboi n. sp. (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae) were found in the large intestines of 55 of 225 adult specimens representing 5 species of Liolaemus collected in 11 localities of northwestern Argentina. Prevalence of infection was 24% (mean intensity = 6.3 +/- 3.4, range = 2-28). Spauligodon loboi n. sp. differs from other neotropical species in that the filamentous portion of the tail of males is spiny, whereas that of females is smooth. A key to the species of Spauligodon in the Neotropical Realm is provided.     

A new species of Dipsas (Squamata: Colubridae) from Guyana

A new species of Dipsas is described from the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. The new species is characterised by 15 dorsal scale rows with the middorsal row slightly enlarged. four pairs of chinshields with the first pair elongate, elongate loreal entering orbit, one preocular, six upper labials, and head narrow anteriorly, increasing in width posteriorly. It could not be determined to which of Peters' (1960) species groups the new species belongs. The new species is known only from 1490 m elevation on Mount Ayanganna. a tepui in the Guiana Shield, where it was found in high-tepui low-canopy habitat, in bromeliads or branches. This is the first record of Dipsas as a member of the Guiana Shield high-tepui herpetofauna.     

Spauligodon carbonelli n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae), parasite of some lizards (Lacertidae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Spauligodon carbonelli n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae), a parasite from the caecum of the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) and the Spanish wall lizard Podarcis hispanica (Steindachner, 1870) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) in the Pirineos Mountains, Spain, is described. S. carbonelli differs from the other known species of the same genus, mainly in the presence and length of the spicule, the morphology of the caudal end in the male and in the structure of the cephalic end of the female.     

Distribution and reproductive strategies of Gyrinicola batrachiensis (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) in larvae of eight species of amphibians from Nebraska

In total, 462 tadpoles and salamander larvae of 8 species were examined for the presence of Gyrinicola batrachiensis from 5 locations in Nebraska. Infection by G. batrachiensis occurred in tadpoles of Rana blairi , Rana catesbeiana, Rana pipiens, and Bufo woodhousii. Tadpoles of Hyla chrysoscelis , Spea bombifrons, and Pseudacris maculata and larvae of Ambystoma mavortium were not infected with G. batrachiensis. Population structure, defined as prevalence, mean abundance, and mean intensity of G. batrachiensis, varied among tadpoles of different amphibian species and was determined by collection locality, developmental period of tadpole hosts, amphibian species co-occurrence, and different reproductive strategies of G. batrachiensis , or a combination. Gyrinicola batrachiensis observed in all ranid tadpoles and B. woodhousii tadpoles from where bufonids were the only anuran species present, confirmed to the didelphic haplodiploidy and monodelphic parthenogenetic reproductive strategies, respectively. However, tadpoles of B. woodhousii that co-occurred with tadpoles of R. pipiens at Cedar Creek were inconsistent with these predictions and contained both male and didelphic female nematodes, but at a low mean intensity (1.61 ± 0.70). Didelphic female nematodes from B. woodhousii tadpoles at Cedar Creek only produced thick-shelled eggs, whereas nematodes in R. pipiens tadpoles had a high mean intensity (14.88 ± 23.83) from this location and contained both thick-shelled and thin-shelled eggs in their respective uteri. More importantly, adult female nematodes from tadpoles of R. pipiens and B. woodhousii from Cedar Creek were morphologically more similar to each other than to female nematodes recovered from tadpoles of other anuran species, other locations, or both. These data suggest that when strains of G. batrachiensis are shared by tadpoles of different amphibian species that differ in developmental period, the nematodes have an intermediate reproductive strategy in amphibian species, with tadpoles having short development.     

New species of Schulzia (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Ptychoglossus festae (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Panama

Schulzia ptychoglossi n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Ptychoglossus festae (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) is described and illustrated. Schulzia ptychoglossi n. sp. represents the fourth species assigned to the genus and is most similar to the Venezuelan species S. usu by possessing a cervical inflation that begins a short distance from the anterior end of the body. Schulzia ptychoglossi differs from S. usu in that ray 8 separates midway between the root and tip of the dorsal ray in S. ptychoglossi, but separates close to the root of the dorsal ray in S. usu.