A new rhabdiasid species from Norops megapholidotus (Sauria: Polychrotidae) from Mexico

Rhabdias leonae n. sp., a parasite of the lungs of Norops megapholidotus, is described and illustrated. The Mexican taxon differs from the other species in the genus by a combination of characters: possession of 4 lips, corpus slightly inflated, slightly postequatorial vulva, and presence of swollen cuticle of anterior and posterior ends. This is the 12th species described in the Neotropical realm and the first species of Rhabdias described from an endemic Mexican lizard.     

New species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Bufo occidentalis (Anura: Bufonidae) from Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexico

Rhabdias kuzmini n. sp., a parasite of the lungs of Bufo occidentalis, is described and illustrated. This Mexican taxon differs from the related species in the genus by the possession of 4 lips (2 subdorsal and 2 subventral) and 2 lateral pseudolabia, corpus not inflated, a larger barrel-shaped buccal capsule, equatorial vulva, and the presence of a slightly swollen cuticle in the anterior and posterior ends of the body. This is the 16th species described in the Neotropical Realm and the first species of Rhabdias described from endemic anurans in México.     

Rhabdias anolis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from the lizard,Anolis frenatus (Sauria: Polychrotidae), from Panama

Rhabdias anolis n. sp. from the lungs of Anolis frenatus collected in Panama is described and illustrated. Rhabdias anolis n. sp. represents the 45th species assigned to the genus and the ninth from the Notropical Realm. It is distinguished from all other Neotropical species by the presence of a pair of sessile lateral papillae on its tail.     

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.     

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.     

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).     

Rhabdias paraensis sp. nov.: a parasite of the lungs of Rhinella marina (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

The nematode parasites of Rhinella marina include species of the genus Rhabdias (Rhabdiasidae: Rhabditoidea). The present study describes Rhabdias paraensis sp. nov., which parasitizes the lungs of R. marina in Brazilian Amazonia. Of the more than 70 known species of this genus, 18 are parasites of bufonids, of which, eight are Neotropical. The new species described here is similar to Rhabdias alabialis in the absence of lips is different by the presence of conspicuous cephalic papillae. We describe details of the four rows of pores, which are distributed equally along the whole of the length of the body and connected with hypodermal cells, using histology and scanning electron microscopy. Other histological aspects of the internal structure of this nematode are also described.     

Two new species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from the marine toad, Bufo marinus (L.) (Lissamphibia: Anura: Bufonidae), in Central America

Two new Rhabdias species are described from the lungs of the cane toad Bufo marinus (L.) from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Rhabdias alabialis n. sp. differs from other known species of the genus by the remarkable morphology of its head end, i.e., the absence of lips or pseudolabia, the slitlike oral opening, and the triangular shape of the buccal capsule in apical view. Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala n. sp. is identified as a form previously known in Central and South America as Rhabdias sphaerocephala Goodey, 1924, a species initially described from toads in Europe. The new species is differentiated from R. sphaerocephala based on head-end morphology and sequences of nuclear rDNA.     

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.     

Morphological and biological study of Rhabdias spp. (Nematoda) from African chameleons with description of a new species

Lung-dwelling females of Rhabdias (Rhabdiasidae), and possible migrating ceolomic young females were searched for in 46 chameleons, belonging to seven species. Rhabdias chamaeleonis, the single species identified to date in Africa, was found in Chamaeleo (Trioceros) johnstoni and C. (T.) hoehnelii, and redescribed; the sizes of the buccal capsule and oesophagus were stable compared to the length of the female parasiles, which varied from 6 mm to 22 mm in length. A second species, R. jarki n. sp., was identified from one C. (T.) johnstoni; it differed from R. chamaeleonis in the shape of anterior region, the longer and slender oesophagus (ratio bulb diameter-body diameter at that level about 1/5 instead of 1/2), the arrangement of the head papillae, the shape of the buccal capsule, and the anatomy of the genital apparatus: one of the ovaries (the anterior or posterior one according to the specimen) had a band of small cells, among larger ovocytes of the synapsis zone, which were likely to generate the spermatozoa present in the oviducts, whereas these two elements were absent from R. chamaeleonis. The parasitic females of R. jarki thus appeared to be hermaphroditic, whereas those of R. chamaeleonis appeared to be parthenogenetic. The free living phase of these Rhabdias species was heterogonic. The infective larva of R. chamaeleonis was 360-590 microns long, unmolile and at third stage inside the maternal cuticle. The free-living male of R. jarki was described. The numerous infective larvae recovered from cultures of unidentified Rhabdias were all in maternal cuticle (one larva/female instead of two as in R. gemellipara from Calumma parsonii, from Madagascar) and two kinds of larvae were identified, R. chamaeleonis and larvae 700-900 microns long provisionally identified to R. jarki. The behaviour of infective larvae and a few successful infections of insects suggest that, in the field, insect transport hosts are involved in transmission and in preventing infective larvae from drying out.     

A new species of Serpentirhabdias Tkach,Kuzmin & Snyder, 2014 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) parasitic in the brown ground snake Atractus major Boulenger (Reptilia: Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Brazil

Serpentirhabdias atracti n. sp. is described based on specimens discovered in the lung of Atractus major Boulenger from Caxiuanã National Forest, Pará, Brazil. The new species is assigned to Serpentirhabdias Tkach, Kuzmin & Snyder, 2014 based on morphological characters (comparatively thin body cuticle without prominent inflations, arrangement of circumoral papillae in two lateral groups, pre-equatorial position of vulva, eggs in uteri at early cleavage stages), as well as because of its parasitism in snakes. The new species is most similar to S. vellardi (Pereira, 1928) due to the absence of lips and buccal capsule, similar body dimensions, and the specificity to dipsadid snakes in Brazil. The two species differ in the shape of the tail (bulbous dilatation in the posterior part followed by a thread-like tail tip present in S. atracti n. sp.), the width of the oesophagus, and the size of the excretory glands. Serpentirhabdias atracti n. sp. is the sixth species of this genus found in the Neotropical Region.     

Rhabdias rhampholeonis n. sp. and Rhabdias mariauxi n. sp. (Nematoda, Rhabdiasoidea), first lung worms from leaf chameleons: Description, molecular evidence and notes on biology

Rhabdias rhampholeonis n. sp. from Rhampholeon (Rh.) spectrum, Cameroon, and Rhabdias mariauxi n. sp. from Rieppeleon brevicaudatus, Tanzania, are the first lung worms from leaf chameleons. The new species are similar to the majority of species parasitic in chamaeleonids by having a long (≥10 mm) and thick body (≥500 µm), long oesophagus (≥800 µm), wide buccal capsule (≥40 µm) and low buccal ratio (<0.5). They most closely resemble Rhabdias chamaeleonis and Rhabdias cristati parasitic in Trioceros spp. from East Africa and Cameroon, respectively. Main distinctive characters are a buccal capsule composed of two segments and the head shape. The dorso-ventrally flattened buccal capsule of R. mariauxi n. sp. is unique in Rhabdias parasitising Chamaeleonidae. Sequences of the 12S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (coxI) genes were obtained and compared to those of Rhabdias okuensis, the only sequences published for chamaeleonid lung worms. The smallest nucleotide interspecific distances were found between R. mariauxi n. sp. and the former species of Trioceros from Cameroon. Hermaphroditism in females in the lungs, and R. mariauxi n. sp. free-living stages are like in other species from Chamaeleonidae, but the number of infective larvae produced per free-living female (one or two) was not fixed.     

Integrative taxonomy in the genus Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 from anuran in Brazil,description of two new species and phylogenetic analyses

About 20 valid species of the genus Rhabdias are known in the Neotropical region. The present study aimed to describe two new species of Rhabdias parasitizing the lungs of Leptodactylus macrosternum and Leptodactylus podicipinus from Brazil. Distinctive characteristics between these species are numerous and based on body size, size of the buccal capsule, shape and size of the oesophagus, and position of the vulva. Molecular data based on ribosomal genes 28S and ITS region and mitochondrial COI of the two species are presented. Molecular analysis and comparison of the partial mitochondrial COI sequence of Rhabdias matogrossensis n. sp. and Rhabdias guaianensis n. sp. revealed a genetic divergence between these new species and the sequences of Rhabdias spp. previously deposited in GenBank. In the phylogenetic analysis, R. matogrossensis n. sp. was grouped with R. breviensis species complex, and R. guaianensis n. sp. was grouped as a sister group of R. cf. stenochepala. This study contributes to improving the diversity of known species of Rhabdias described in Brazilian anurans.     

A new species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from agamid lizards on Luzon Island, Philippines

Rhabdias odilebaini n. sp. is described on the basis of specimens found in the lungs of 2 species of agamid lizards: the Philippine flying lizard Draco spilopterus and the marbled bloodsucker Bronchocela marmorata . Specimens were collected in Aurora Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. The new species of Rhabdias is characterized by presence of 4 submedian lips, inconspicuous lateral lips, rounded cross-shaped oral opening, and tail end bent dorsally. This species is morphologically distinct from other Rhabdias spp. that parasitize reptilian and amphibian hosts, including 3 other species known to parasitize lizards of the Agamidae.     

Three new species of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) parasitic in Ptychadena spp. (Amphibia: Anura: Ptychadenidae) and an identification key to Rhabdias spp. from Afrotropical anurans

Three new species of lung-dwelling nematodes are described from the frogs Ptychadena anchietae (Bocage), P. oxyrhynchus (Smith), and P. uzungwensis (Loveridge) in southern Africa. All three species are medium-sized species of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905, with the thick-walled buccal capsules measuring 11–13 μm × 6–11 μm, consisting of longer anterior and shorter posterior parts. Rhabdias athos n. sp. and R. porthos n. sp. are characterised by the rounded anterior end of the body and the presence of short dilatation of the oesophagus at its mid-length. Rhabdias porthos n. sp. has distinct excretory glands which are absent in two other species. Rhabdias aramis n. sp. is characterised by the truncated anterior end and the slight constriction of the oesophagus at the level of its mid-length. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS-28S rDNA sequences placed R. aramis n. sp. in the clade consisting of R. engelbrechti Kuzmin et al., 2017 from South Africa and Eurasian Rhabdias spp., while R. athos n. sp. and R. porthos n. sp. formed a sister group to that clade. Identification key to 14 Rhabdias spp. parasitic in anuran amphibians from the Afrotropical Realm is provided.     

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.     

Revision of the Neotropical genus Chimarrhodella Lestage (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

Abstract. A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical genus Chimarrhodella Lestage is presented. Four described species are recognized, C.galeata (Martynov), C.peruviana (Ross), C.ulmeri (Ross) and C.nigra Flint. In addition, five new species are described, C.costaricensis sp.n. (Costa Rica), C.tapanti sp.n. (Costa Rica), C.flinti sp.n. (Venezuela), C.pilcopata , sp.n. (Peru) and C.tobagoensis sp.n. (Tobago). These species are organized into two monophyletic species groups, designated here the Galeata Group and the Peruviana Group. The Galeata Group is characterized by having male genitalia with tergum X possessing well developed lateral lobes bearing sclerotized, spine-like processes and includes C.galeata, C.costaricensis, C.flinti, C.pilcopata and C.tapanti. The Peruviana Group is characterized by having male genitalia with tergum X only slightly divided apically, tergum IX bearing hook-like processes posteriorly, and female genitalia with segment VIII much elongated in comparison to the Galeata Group and includes C.peruviana, C.nigra, C.tobagoensis and C.ulmeri. Records of the genus from Costa Rica and Tobago represent significant extensions of the known range for the genus, previously unknown north of Panama. A key to males and known females and a species-level phylogenetic analysis are included.     

Cosmocerca vrcibradici n. sp. (Ascaridida: Cosmocercidae), Oswaldocruzia vitti n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineoidae), and other helminths from Prionodactylus eigenmanni and Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi (Sauria: Gymnophthalmidae) from Brazil and Ecuador

Cosmocerca vrcibradici n. sp. and Oswaldocruzia vitti n. sp., intestinal parasites of Prionodactylus eigenmanni (type host) and P. oshaughnessyi, are described and illustrated. Of the 19 valid species of Cosmocerca, C. vrcibradici n. sp. represents the 12th Neotropical species and the first species to be reported from lizard hosts. Of the 76 valid species of Oswaldocruzia, O. vitti n. sp. represents the 14th Neotropical species and the eighth species to be reported from lizard hosts. In addition, 1 species of Digenea, Mesocoelium monas, and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus saurius, were found.     

A new species of Heth Cobb, 1898 (Nematoda: Rhigonematida: Hethidae) from an Australian millipede (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Spirostreptida)

Abstract

A new species of nematode, Heth baudini sp. n. from a diplopod (Spirostreptida: Iulomorphidae Verhoeff, 1924) collected in Queensland, Australia, is described and illustrated. The cephalic and cervical cuticular ornamentation of females of H. baudini sp. n. is similar to those of South-East Asian and Australasian Heth species. Heth baudini sp. n. females are particularly close to Heth taynguyeni from Vietnam but can be distinguished by the shape of the lateral lappets, which in H. taynguyeni limit the trapezium-shaped region of smooth cuticle unlike the elliptical region in H. baudini sp. n., and by the presence of lateral spines only half the size. The cuticle of the H. baudini sp. n. is finely annulated along the entire body, whereas H. taynguyeni has broader rings behind the first pair of lateral spines, each consisting of five or six narrower rings separated from each other by deeper furrows. Males of H. baudini sp. n. are characterised by the presence of a bursa-like fold on the tail and can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the presence of somatic papillae embedded into the bursal fold.