A new polystomatid (Monogenea,Polystomatidae) from the mouth of the North American freshwater turtle Pseudemys
nelsoni |
| |
Authors: | Louis H Du Preez Michelle Van Rooyen |
| |
Institution: | 1.Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa |
| |
Abstract: | Based on material collected from Pseudemys
nelsoni (Reptilia: Chelonia: Emydidae) during a parasite survey of the herpetofauna around Gainesville, Florida, USA, Polystomoides
nelsoni
sp. n. is described as a new polystome species. This parasite was found in the oral and pharyngeal region of the host. In a sample of nine Pseudemys
nelsoni, three specimens were found to release polystome eggs. One turtle was euthanized and dissected and found to be infected in the oral region with 19 specimens belonging to an as-yet-unknown Polystomoides. This is only the fifth Polystomoides recorded from the Nearctic realm. This species is distinguished from known species by a combination of characteristics including marginal hooklet morphology, body length and haptor dimensions. |
| |
Keywords: | Monogenea" target="_blank">Monogenea Polystomatidae" target="_blank">Polystomatidae Polystomoides" target="_blank">Polystomoides freshwater turtle Florida USA |
|
|