A New Species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Green Frog, Lithobates clamitans (Anura: Ranidae) from Arkansas, U.S.A.

Between April and October 2012, 20 juvenile and adult green frogs (Lithobates clamitans) were collected by hand or dipnet from 3 counties of Arkansas and examined for coccidial parasites. A single frog (5%) was found to be passing oocysts of a new eimerian species. Oocysts of Eimeria menaensis n. sp. were ellipsoidal to subspheroidal with a bilayered wall and measured (L × W) 25.4 × 15.6 (23-27 × 13-17) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.6. A micropyle was absent but an oocyst residuum and polar granule were present. Sporocysts were spheroidal to subspheroidal and measured 5.0 × 5.0 (4-6) µm with L/W of 1.1. An indistinct Stieda body was present, but sub-and para-Stieda bodies were absent. The sporocyst residuum consisted of condensed granules dispersed between sporozoites. Sporozoites were elongate and attenuated at both ends with spheroidal anterior and posterior refractile bodies. This represents the second report of coccidia from L. clamitans and the first time a coccidian has been reported from a green frog from Arkansas.

Morphological and Molecular Description of a New Species Haematoloechus dehradunensis sp. nov. (Plagiorchiidae: Haematoloechinae) from the Lungs of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Anura, Dicroglossidae) from Dehradun, along with a Note on H. singaporensis Yuen, 1962, a New Record to India.

PURPOSE: Morphological and molecular description of a new species of Haematoloechus dehradunensis sp. nov. collected from the lungs of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider 1799) from Dehradun (Uttarakhand), India and reporting first record of H. singaporensis from India. METHODS: Digeneans were fixed in AFA (alcohol-formalin-acetic acid), stained with Borax's carmine, studied and photomicrographed with a BX53 DIC/BF Olympus research microscope. Molecular studies were done by DNA isolation using Qiagen, DNeasy® Blood and Tissue Kit and PCR amplification using r-DNA ITS-1 marker situated between 18S and 1.58S gene. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The new species is differentiated from other known species of Haematoloechus in having larger oral sucker, kidney-shaped ovary and oval-lobed testes. H. singaporensis collected from E. cyanophlyctis represents a first record for India and a new host record. ITS sequences submitted and compared at NCBI GenBank support the uniqueness of the new species.

A new species of Spinicauda (Nematoda: Heterakidae) from Gonocephalus kuhlii (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Ciremai Mountain, Java-Indonesia.

Spinicauda ciremaiensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Heterakidae) from the large intestine of Gonocephalus kuhlii (Reptilia: Agamidae) collected in Gunung Ciremai National Park, West Java, Indonesia is described and illustrated. Of the five described species of Spinicauda from the Oriental region, Spinicauda ciremaiensis sp. nov. comes closest to S. sumatrana in having 14 pairs of caudal papillae and the presence of a tail filament. However, the new species differs from S. sumatrana in the longer spicula, smaller eggs, and weak sclerotization of the gubernaculum. S. ciremaiensis sp. nov. is also the only species belonging to the genus Spinicauda which has a sclerotized accessories piece of gubernaculum. A key to the species of Spinicauda is also provided. [http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:785F2D63-E5EB-4E4C-A7E1-7F7E7AD7C392].

Rhabdias elegans (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) in the toad, Rhinella arenarum (Hensel, 1867) from Argentina.

This study describes the morphology of Rhabdias elegans Gutierrez, 1945, isolated from the lungs of the toad Rhinella arenarum (Hensel, 1867) from Lomas de Tafi Tucumán, Argentina. This is the first record of R. elegans in R. arenarum from northwestern Argentina as previously described Rhabdias truncata is a species inquirendae. The distribution of R. elegans is extended since it was previously recorded in Buenos Aires, Chaco and Corrientes Provinces, Argentina. Our light microscopical study of morphological details of R. elegans revealed a few previously unreported structures in the apical region including position of the excretory pore and lateral sessile papillae in the tail. In addition, morphometric variability was observed on comparing present specimens and those described in previous studies. Our study made it possible to validate the occurrence of three Rhabdias species occurring in Argentina: R. elegans, R. füelleborni and R. cf. sphaerocephala. The information presented in this study represents an important contribution to the parasitological knowledge of R. arenarum from northwestern Argentina.

New species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Nyctimystes cheesmani (Anura: Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea.

Falcaustra batrachiensis n. sp. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Nyctimystes cheesmani (Anura, Hylidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra batrachiensis represents the fifth Australo-Papuan species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Australo-Papuan species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (8 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 6 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (1.4-1.6 mm) and presence of pseudosuckers (5 or 6). Nyctimystes cheesmani was found to harbor 7 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Maxvachonia ewersi, Meteterakis crombiei, Physalopteroides milnensis, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Seuratascaris numidica, larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus bufonis. Nyctimystes cheesmani represents a new host record for each of these helminth species.

First Report on the Genus Gyrinicola Yamaguti, 1938 from India with a Description of a New Species.

INTRODUCTION: Gyrinicola dehradunensis sp. nov. from the intestine of tadpoles of the small paa frog, Nanorana minica, from Dehradun (Uttarakhand), India is described and illustrated. Gyrinicola dehradunensis is the first species of the genus recorded from India and the second species recorded from Asia. METHODS: Light microscopy was used for the identification of nematodes using BX53 DIC/BF Olympus research microscope with an attached DP27 digital camera. Drawings for the description of the new species were made from photomicrographs. For molecular studies, DNA was isolated using Qiagen, DNeasy® Blood and Tissue Kit and amplified using r-DNA ITS-18S, and ITS-1.58S primers. RESULTS: The new species is differentiated from the known species by the absence of larvated eggs and the presence of a tooth-like projection in the buccal region. N. minica is a new host record for the genus. Four r-DNA ITS1 sequences of the new species have been submitted to the NCBI Genbank.

New species of Parathelandros (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) in Nyctimystes trachydermis (Anura: Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea.

Parathelandros allisoni n. sp. from the intestines of the frog Nyctimystes trachydermis (Hylidae) from Central Province, Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. It is the 12th species assigned to the genus and the ninth species of Parathelandros to be reported from the Australo-Papuan region. Parathelandros allisoni n. sp. is most similar to Parathelandros australiensis in that the vulva occurs near the esophageal bulb, but differs in that males lack the spherical postcloacal lobe characteristic of P. australiensis. The description of P. andersoni is amended to include operculate eggs and rosette papillae on the tail of the male.

A new species of Cosmocercidae (Ascaridida) in the worm lizard, Amphisbaena bolivica (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae), from Argentina.

Aplectana tucumanensis n. sp., from the large intestine of Amphisbaena bolivica, is described and illustrated. Of the 43 nominal species of Aplectana, A. tucumanensis n. sp. represents the fourth species reported in Amphisbaena spp. These 4 species are separated on the basis of male characters: spicules of Aplectana alba approximately 60 micro in length, Aplectana pusilla and A. tucumanensis approximately 100 micro, Aplectana raillieti greater than 230 micro; papillae pattern of A. pusilla with 3 preanal pairs, 2 adanal pairs, 6 postanal pairs, and 1 median papilla compared to 9 preanal pairs, 1 adanal pair, 6 postanal, and no median papilla for A. tucumanensis.

New species of Aplectana (Ascaridida: Cosmocercidae) in the toads, Rhinella granulosa and Rhinella schneideri (Anura: Bufonidae) from northern Argentina.

Aplectana adaechevarriae n. sp., from the large intestine of Rhinella granulosa and Rhinella schneideri, is described and illustrated. Of the 43 nominal species of Aplectana, A. adaechevarriae n. sp. represents the 23rd Neotropical species and the third species reported from Argentina. Of the Neotropical species, only 4, Aplectana elenae, Aplectana hylambatis, Aplectana raillieti, and A. adaechevarriae n. sp., have 8 pairs of preanal papillae. Aplectana adaechevarriae lacks a median preanal papilla; the other 3 species possess a median preanal papilla.

New Species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Batagur trivittata (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from Myanmar.

Falcaustra tintlwini sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Batagur trivittata (Testudines, Geoemydidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra tintlwini represents the 20th Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Oriental species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 12 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (0.43-0.50 mm) and absence of a pseudosucker.

Nematode parasites of Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Lutken, 1864) (Amphibia: Anura) with description of a new species of Rhabdias Stiles and Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Dehradun (Uttarakhand), India.

Rhabdias stomatica sp. nov. from the lungs of Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Lutken, 1864) from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India is described and illustrated. Rhabdias stomatica sp. nov. is the 16th species described from the Oriental biogeographical region and the 8th species from India. The new species is differentiated from the closely related Oriental species in having 4 weakly developed lips, a trapezoidal shaped buccal cavity, different position of nerve ring and in the esophagus/body length ratio. In addition, to the new species found in the lungs, mature specimens of Aplectana macintoshii (Stewart, 1914) Travassos, 1931 and larvae representing two unidentified species of nematode were found in the large intestine of the D. stomaticus.

A new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) in Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae), from Hainan Province, China.

Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. represents the 52nd species assigned to the genus and the 5th species reported from the Sino-Japanese region. It is easily separated from the 4 species previously reported from the region by the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii has an irregular pattern; A. hylae has no precloacal papillae; A. fujianae has 1 pair of precloacal papillae; A paucipapillosa has 3 pairs of precloacal papillae; Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. has 7 pairs of precloacal papillae.

Description of a new species of Rhabdias Stiles and Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Western Himalayan foothills (Uttarakhand), India.

Rhabdias garhwalensis sp. nov. from the lungs of Duttaphrynus himalayanus (Günther, 1864) collected in Kimoi Tehsil, district Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand), India is described and illustrated. Rhabdias garhwalensis sp. nov. represents the 15th species described from the Oriental zoogeographical zone and the 9th species from India. The new species is differentiated from the closely related Oriental species in having 6 lips, cup-shaped buccal cavity with muscular striations in the posterior region and smaller esophagus to body length ratio. In addition to the new species, a second species, Cosmocercoides bufonis Karve, 1944, was found in the large intestine of D. himalayanus.

Endoparasites in Limnonectes magnus (Anura, Dicroglossidae) from Samar Island, Philippines with description of a new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae).

Aplectana samarensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Limnonectes magnus (Anura, Dicroglossidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana samarensis sp. nov. represents the 53rd species assigned to the genus and the 6th species reported from the Oriental region. It is easily separated from the 5 species previously reported from the region by the presence of a gubernaculum and the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii has an irregular pattern, no precloacal papillae in rows; both A. akhrami and A. dubrajpuri lack a gubernaculum; A. duttaphryni has 3 pairs of precloacal papillae forming 2 rows; A. ranae has 7 pairs of precloacal papillae forming 2 rows; A. samarensis sp. nov. has 4 pairs of precloacal papillae in 2 rows. In addition to the new species, individuals of Falcaustra dubia and Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis as well as cestode plerocercoids were also found.

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.

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.

Two new species of cosmocercids (Ascaridida) in the toad Chaunus arenarum (Anura: Bufonidae) from Argentina.

Aplectana tarija n. sp. and Cosmocercoides lilloi n. sp., intestinal parasites of the toad Chaunus arenarum, are described. Of the 41 nominal species of Aplectana, A. tarija n. sp. represents the 22nd Neotropical species and the second species reported from Argentina. Of the 14 nominal species of Cosmocercoides, C. lilloi n. sp. represents the 15th species and the first species reported from South America.

A new species of Oochoristica (Cyclophyllidea: Linstowiidae) from non-native Mediterranean geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus (Sauria: Gekkonidae), from Texas, USA.

A new species of cyclophyllidean tapeworm, Oochoristica harschi sp. nov. is described from 2 of 18 (11%) non-native Mediterranean geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) collected in June 2016 from Tom Green County, Texas, USA The new species has few characteristics in common with 17 species of Oochoristica previously described from Nearctic reptiles. Of this group, O. harschi is most similar to O. macallisteri Bursey and Goldberg, 1996 from the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana from Arizona and California, USA, in number of testes, 14-20 vs. 12-20. However, O. harschi has oval suckers and a long neck compared to the circular suckers and absent neck in O. macallisteri. On comparison with other species of Oochoristica, it was found O. chinensis Jensen, Schmidt and Kuntz, 1983 from the Sino-Japanese realm, O. iguanae Bursey and Goldberg, 1996 from the Neotropical realm, and O. maccoyi Bursey and Goldberg, 1966 from the Panamanian realm were most similar to the new species. However, O. harschi can be differentiated by possessing a much longer neck and a shorter cirrus pouch. It can be further differentiated from O. chinensis by possessing an ovoid vs. an irregular vitellarium, from O. iguanae by having a smaller strobilus (65 vs. 110 mm) as well as an ovoid vs. a triangular vitellarium, and from O. maccoyi by having significantly more proglottids (145 vs. 89) and a longer strobilus (65 vs. 20 mm). The new species is the fifth species of Oochoristica reported from non-native H. turcicus and the 18th species described from the Nearctic region.

First report of Seuratascaris numidica Seurat, 1917 (Nematoda: Ascarididae) and other helminths from amphibians of West Bengal, India.

Studies on nematode parasites from anuran hosts from Eastern India, particularly West Bengal, are rare. To our knowledge, there is a report of larvae of Monhysterides sp. (a fish parasite) from cysts within the body cavity and musculature of Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis hexadactylus as well as descriptions of Aplectana duttaphryni from D. melanostictus, Aplectana dubrajpuri from H. tigerinus, Cosmocerca microhylae from Microhyla rubra and Rhabdias bulbicauda from D. melanostictus. Here, we report mature individuals of typical anuran parasites, Diplodiscus amphichrus and Seuratascaris numidica, from H. tigerinus and larvae of Acuariidae (a bird parasite) from Fejervarya limnocharis collected in Kulti, West Bengal.

A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda; Oxyuroidea; Pharyngodonidae) and other Nematodes in Cyrtodactylus epiroticus (Squamata; Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea.

Spauligodon papuensis sp. nov. from the large intestines of Cyrtodactylus epiroticus (Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Spauligodon papuensis sp. nov. represents the 54th species assigned to the genus and the second species from the Oceanic Region. The new species is separated from congeners by the unique combination of aspinose filamentous tail and no spicule in the male; and spinose filamentous tail, fusiform, flanged eggs, and postbulbar vulva in the female. Four additional species of nematodes were also found in C. epiroticus: mature specimens of Cosmocerca zugi, Falcaustra papuensis, Physalopteroides milnensis and larvae of Abbreviata sp.