New genus of Pharyngodonidae (Nematoda: Oxyuridea) and other helminths in Platymantis nexipus (Anura: Ranidae) from Papua New Guinea

Rokroknema novaebritanniae n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of Platymantis nexipus (Anura: Ranidae) is described and illustrated. Rokroknema represents the second Australo-Papuan genus assigned to the family Pharyngodonidae known to infect frogs. It is similar to Parathelandros (the other genus), but it is readily distinguished because the posterior pair of caudal papillae is not in the form of a rosette. Platymantis nexipus also was found to harbor 1 species of Digenea, Opisthioglyphe cophixali, and 5 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Aplectana krausi, Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Falcaustra batrachiensis, Icosiella papuensis, and larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., plus unidentified cystacanths of 1 species of acanthocephalan.     

New species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Platysternon megacephalum (Testudines: Platysternidae) from China

Falcaustra taimoshanensis n. sp. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the feces of Platysternon megacephalum (Testudines; Platysternidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra taimoshanensis n. sp. represents the 32nd Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 12 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (765-791 μm), and presence of 1 pseudosucker.     

New species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) from Heosemys grandis (Testudines: Emydidae)

Falcaustra kinsellai n. sp. from the intestines of the turtle Heosemys grandis is described and illustrated. Falcaustra kinsellai represents the 30th Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 6 adcloacal, 10 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (427-451 microm), presence of a pseudosucker, and presence of a toothed chamber between vestibule and pharynx.     

Falcaustra washingtonensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) from Ambystoma tigrinum melanostictum (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from Washington State, USA.

Falcaustra washingtonensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) from the intestine of the salamander Ambystoma tigrinum melanostictum is described and illustrated. Falcaustra washingtonensis n. sp. represents the 14th nearctic species assigned to this genus and is distinguished from other nearctic species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae and number of posterior muscle groups of the male: 10 pairs of sessile caudal papillae--3 pairs precloacal, 1 pair adcloacal, 6 pairs postcloacal--and 5 posterior muscle groups.     

Falcaustra greineri n. sp. (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) from Orlitia borneensis (Testudines: Emydidae)

Falcaustra greineri n. sp. from the large intestine of the turtle Orlitia borneensis is described and illustrated. Falcaustra greineri represents the 23rd Oriental species assigned to this genus and is distinguished from other Oriental species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (6 preanal, 0 adanal, 14 postanal, and 1 median), length of spicules (1.07-1.33 mm), and absence of pseudosucker.     

Falcaustra kutcheri n. sP. (nematoda: kathlaniidae) from Geoemyda yuwonoi (testudines: emydidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Falcaustra kutcheri n. sp. (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) from feces of the turtle Geoemyda yuwonoi is described and illustrated. Falcaustra kutcheri n. sp. represents the 68th species to be assigned to this genus and is distinguished from other oriental species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae of the male: 10 pairs of sessile caudal papillae, 4 pairs precloacal, 1 pair adcloacal, 5 pairs postcloacal.     

New species of kathlaniid (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea) collected from hynobiid salamanders in Japan

Falcaustra odaiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae) is described from the Japanese clawed salamander, Onychodactylus japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782), and Ishizuchi salamander, Hynobius hirosei Lantz, 1931 (Caudata: Hynobiidae), in Japan. This nematode is characterized by having multiple pseudosuckers in the male. It resembles Falcaustra araxiana, Falcaustra duyagi, Falcaustra lambdiensis, Falcaustra pillaii, Falcaustra siamensis, and Falcaustra washingtonensis, but is readily distinguished by the spicule length and/or egg size. This is the first Falcaustra species described from Japanese salamanders.     

Two new species of Falcaustra and comments on helminths of Norops tropidolepis (Sauria: Polychrotidae) from Costa Rica

Falcaustra costaricae n. sp. from the intestines of the lizard Norops tropidolepis and F. heosemydis n. sp. from the large intestine of the turtle Heosemys depressa are described and illustrated. Falcaustra costaricae represents the 10th Neotropical species assigned to this genus and is distinguished from other Neotropical species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (10 preanal, 0 adanal, 12 postanal, and 1 median), length and width of spicules (510-561 microm long, 18-24 microm wide), and absence of pseudosucker. Falcaustra heosemydis represents the 29th Oriental species and is distinguished from other Oriental species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (10 preanal, 0 adanal, 12 postanal, and 1 median), length of spicules (790-890 microm), and absence of pseudosucker. Norops tropidolepis was found to harbor 3 species of Nematoda, F. costaricae, Rhabdias anolis, and acuariid larvae, and 2 species of Acanthocephala (centrorhynchid cystacanths and oligacanthorhynchid cystacanths).     

New species of Aplectana (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in Sphenomorphus pratti from Papua New Guinea

Aplectana novaeguineae n. sp. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Sphenomorphus pratti (Squamata: Scincidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana novaeguineae n. sp. represents the 48th species assigned to the genus and the 5th species of the genus reported from the Australo-Papuan region. It is most similar to Aplectana leesi, Aplectana linstowi , and Aplectana krausi in that females of only these 4 species exhibit a swollen anterior vulvar lip. These 4 species may be separated by spicule length and caudal papillae arrangement. Spicules of A. linstowi and A. krausi are less than 200 μm in length, A. leesi between 200 and 250 μm, and A novaeguineae greater than 400 μm. Aplectana linstowi possesses 18 post cloacal papillae, A. leesi and A. krausi each possess 10, and A. novaeguineae possesses 8. In addition, Paraleptonema ranae has been assigned to Aplectana as Aplectana fujianae nom. nov.     

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.     

Two new kathlaniid species (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea) parasitic in salamanders of the genus Andrias (Amphibia: Caudata: Cryptobranchidae)

The new nematode species, Falcaustra hanzaki n. sp. and Urodelnema takanoensis n. sp. (Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae), were found from the intestine of giant salamanders in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The first species is featured by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae (3 pairs of precloacal papillae, 8 pairs of postcloacal papillae and a single ventral precloacal papilla), the presence of a single pseudosucker, spicules equal in size (520–638 μm long), and V-shaped gubernaculum in males; vulva situated about 3/5 of a body in females. The second species is characterized by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae (5 pairs of precloacal papillae, 6 pairs of postcloacal papillae and a single ventral precloacal papilla), spicules equal in size (403–593 μm long), V-shaped gubernaculum in males; vulva situated about 3/5 of a body in females. The molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed using the partial 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA and the internal transcribed spacers 1 region in the nuclear DNA. This phylogenetic study raised a question about the validity of Family Kathlaniidae and related families of Cosmocercoidea.     

Expanded geographical range, new host accounts, and observations of the nematode Gyrinicola batrachiensis (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) in tadpoles

We describe the first account of the nematode Gyrinicola batrachiensis in the gastrointestinal tracts of tadpoles of Bufo terrestris, Gastrophryne carolinensis, Hyla femoralis, H. squirella, Rana heckscheri, and R. utricularia. Infection by G. batrachiensis was also noted in tadpoles of R. catesbeiana and R. clamitans, species previously described as harboring these nematodes. These observations represent a major expansion of the known geographical range of G. batrachiensis to include the southeastern United States. In our study, female G. batrachiensis nematodes in ranid host species were didelphic, but females in B. terrestris tadpoles were monodelphic. Furthermore, only female nematodes were found in the latter host species. Such variations in nematode uterine morphology and sex ratios among these tadpole host species are in accordance with the apomictic and haplodiploid reproductive strategies previously reported for G. batrachiensis. These observations also support a generalized pattern relating G. batrachiensis reproductive modes and the life cycles of their tadpole hosts.     

New species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) and other helminths from Norops capito (Sauria: Polychrotidae) from Nicaragua

Rhabdias nicaraguensis n. sp. (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae) from the lungs of Norops capito (Sauria: Polychrotidae) is described and illustrated. Rhabdias nicaraguensis n. sp. represents the 54th species assigned to the genus and the 12th from the Neotropical realm. Of the 12 Neotropical Rhabdias species, nicaraguensis is most similar to tobagoensis and vellardi. These 3 species have equatorial placement of the vulva, inflated cuticle, and 6 small circumoral lips. Rhabdias nicaraguensis is easily separated from R. tobagoensis by the shape of the buccal cavity and from R. vellardi by body size and shape of the tail. Rhabdias nicaraguensis differs from both species by host preference, the amount of inflated cuticle covering the body, and the phasmids situated posterior to the midpoint of the tail.     

New species of Oswaldocruzia (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Ameiva festiva (Squamata: Teiidae) from Nicaragua

Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Ameiva festiva (Sauria: Teiidae) is described and illustrated. Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis represents the 78th species assigned to the genus and is most similar to the Caribbean species of the genus by possessing spicules in which each of the 3 divisions terminates in numerous fine points. Of the 8 species assigned to this group, O. nicaraguensis is most similar to Oswaldocruzia moraveci; of the 8 species, only O. moraveci and O. nicaraguensis possess a type II bursa and lack cervical alae. It is separated from O. moraveci by the position of the tips of ribs 5-6; close together in O. nicaraguensis, well separated in O. moraveci.     

Endoparasites in Sphenomorphus jobiensis (Sauria: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea with description of three new species

One species of digenean, Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi n. sp., and 2 nematode species, Meteterakis crombiei n. sp. and Physalopteroides milnensis n. sp., from the intestine of Sphenomorphus jobiensis, are described and illustrated. Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi n. sp. represents the second species, Meteterakis crombiei n. sp. the 18th species, and Physalopteroides milnensis n. sp. the 19th species assigned to each respective genus. In addition, 1 species of cestode, Oochoristica javaensis; 7 nematode species, Abbreviata oligopapillata, Aplectana macintoshii, Aplectana zweifli, Cosmocerca zugi, Maxvachonia adamsoni, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Parapharyngodon maplestonei; 1 species of acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus bufonis; and 1 species of pentastome, Kiricephalus sp., were found. With the exception of Abbreviata oligopapillata, Sphenomorphus jobiensis represents a new host record for each species of endoparasite.     

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.     

New species of Oswaldocruzia (Nematoda: Molineidae) and other helminths in Bolitoglossa subpalmata (Caudata:Plethodontidae) from Costa Rica

Oswaldocruzia cartagoensis n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Bolitoglossa subpalmata (Caudata: Plethodontidae) is described and illustrated. Oswaldocruzia cartagoensis n. sp. represents the 86 th species assigned to the genus and the 39th species from the Neotropical region. It is most similar to the Neotropical species of the genus that possess type I bursa, i.e., Oswaldocruzia bonsi , Oswaldocruzia brasiliensis , Oswaldocruzia lopesi , Oswaldocruzia neghmei , and Oswaldocruzia vitti . Of these, O. bonsi, O. brasiliensis, and O. neghmei lack cervical alae, rib 4 in individuals of O. vitti reaches the edge of the bursal membrane, species of O. lopesi and O. cartagoensis can be separated on the basis of spicule structure, the blade in O. lopesi is bifurcate, and that of O. cartagoensis terminates in 6-8 fine points. In addition to the new species of Oswaldocruzia, Cosmocera parva, Cosmocera podicipinus, and acanthocephalan cystacanths were also found.     

New genus, new species of Cestoda (Anoplocephalidae), new species of Nematoda (Cosmocercidae) and other helminths in Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea

Gekkotaenia novaeguineaensis n. gen., n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from the small intestine and Cosmocerca zugi n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of the ring-tailed gecko, Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis (Sauria: Gekkonidae) are described and illustrated. Gekkotaenia novaeguineaensis n. gen., n. sp. is unique among the acraspedote Linstowiinae in possessing a poral female reproductory system. Cosmocerca zugi n. sp. is the 22nd species to be assigned to the genus and differs from other species in the genus by possessing 4 pairs of rosette papillae on plectanes and having a gubernaculum longer than the spicules. It is the fifth species to be described from the Australian biogeographical region. Eight additional helminth species were found: the digenean, Allopharynx macallisteri; 2 cestodes, cysticercoids of Cyclophyllidea gen. sp. and tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp.; 5 nematodes, larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., Aplectana macintoshii, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Parapharyngodon maplestonei, and an undescribed species of Physalopteroides. Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis represents a new host record for each of these helminths.