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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spinicauda sumatrana sp. nov. (Nematoda: Heterakidae) from Ludeking's Crested Dragon, Lophocalotes ludekingi (Agamidae), from the Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra.

Spinicauda sumatrana sp. nov. is described from the large intestine of Ludeking's Crested Dragon, Lophocalotes ludekingi (Agamidae) from the Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra. The new species is assigned to Spinicauda based on the presence of off-set lips in both male and female and a ventrally directed sucker combined with the absence of caudal alae in males. It is the 17th species assigned to the genus and differs from all congeners in the combination of spicule length, presence of a gubernaculum, presence of a tail filament and fourteen pairs of caudal papillae.

Helminth (Cestoda, Nematoda) and coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) parasites of the eastern small-footed myotis, Myotis leibii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Arkansas, with a description of a new species of Eimeria.

During May and July 2016, 32 eastern small-footed myotis (Myotis leibii) were collected from five counties of northwestern Arkansas and their faeces examined for coccidian parasites. Four of 32 (13%) M. leibii harboured an eimerian that we describe here as new. Oocysts of Eimeria sassei sp. n. were ovoidal to ellipsoidal with a bi-layered wall and measured (length × width, L × W) 18.3 × 15.2 µm, with an L/W ratio of 1.2. A micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but 1-2 polar granules were present. Sporocysts were ovoidal, 9.6 × 6.3 µm, with an L/W ratio of 1.5. A pronounced, button-like Stieda body was present but substieda and parastieda bodies were absent. A sporocyst residuum was present as distinct aligned or dispersed granules. One bat that we found dead was examined for helminth parasites. It harbored the tapeworm, Vampirolepis sp. and a nematode, Seuratum cancellatum. This is the first coccidian as well as the second helminths reported from M. leibii. In addition, this is the seventh species of coccidian parasite documented from Arkansas bats.

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.

Three new species of Pharygodonidae (Nematoda: Oxyuridea) in Laudakia tuberculata (Squamata: Agamidae) from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

Parapharyngodon tuberculata sp. nov., Thelandros tuberculata sp. nov. and Thelandros dehradunensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of a rock lizard, Laudakia tuberculata Gray, 1827), are described and illustrated. Parapharyngodon tuberculata sp. nov. is the 8th Oriental species and 59th species assigned to the genus Parapharyngodon and differs from other species of the genus by possessing 3 pairs of caudal papillae, an echinate cloacal lip, 112-115 µm spicule length and postbulbar ovary. Thelandros tuberculata sp. nov. is the 5th and Thelandros dehradunensis sp. nov. the 6th Oriental species, respectively, and they are the 40th and 41st species assigned to the genus Thelandros. They differ from other species of the genus in caudal papillae arrangement, length of spicules, and structure of the anterior end of the esophagus. We transfer Parapharyngodon arequipensis Calisaya and Cordova, 1997 to Thelandros arequipensis (Calisaya and Cordova, 1997) comb. n. based upon the presence of a terminal operculum in the egg and large, pendant, caudal papillae.

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.

Helminth parasites of the Mediterranean gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus (Sauria: Gekkonidae), from Texas, United States with a summary of helminths of this host.

One hundred-thirty six Mediterranean geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus, were collected between December 1986 and March 2016 in Hardin (n = 7), Harris (n = 57), and Tom Green (n = 72) counties, Texas, USA., and examined for helminth parasites. Fifty-two H. turcicus (38%) were infected with at least one helminth species. Found were a trematode, Mesocoelium meggitti, three cestodes, Mesocestoides sp. (tetrathyridia), Oochoristica ameivae and Oochoristica scelopori, and four nematodes, Cosmocercoides variabilis, Oswaldocruzia pipiens, Parapharyngodon cubensis, and larvae of Physaloptera sp. Oochoristica ameivae, O. scelopori, P. cubensis, Physaloptera sp., and Os. pipiens represent new host records for H. turcicus and M. meggitti is reported from Texas for the first time. A summary of the helminth parasites of both native and non-native H. turcicus is presented.

A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda; Oxyuroidea; Pharyngodonide) and other Helminths in Ptychozoon Kuhli (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from East Malaysia.

Spauligodon geckonis sp. nov. from the intestines of Ptychozoon kuhli (Gekkonidae) from East Malaysia is described and illustrated. Spauligodon geckonis sp. nov. represents the 52nd species assigned to the genus and the third species from the Oriental Region. The new species is separated from congeners by the unique combination of aspinose filamentous tail and spicule in the male and spinose filamentous tail and fusiform, two knobbed eggs in the female. Gravid individuals 3 species of Nematoda, Meteterakis singaporensis, Physalopteroides grismeri, and Skrjabinelazia machidai, as well as larvae assignable to the Ascaridae were also found.

Description of a new species of Chabaudus Inglis and Ogden, 1965 (Nematoda: Seuratoidea) from the frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis from Dehrandun, Uttarakhand, India.

Chabaudus dehradunensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Seuratoidea) from the large intestine of the water skipper, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Anura, Dicroglossidae), from Dehrandun, India is described and illustrated. Chabaudus dehradunensis sp. nov. is the 6th species assigned to the genus and 1st species reported from India. It is separated from its congeners based upon the number and arrangement of caudal papillae and the length of spicule. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis is the new host record for the genus Chabaudus.

New species of Cosmocercoides (Nematoda; Cosmocercidae) and other helminths in Gonocephalus liogaster (Squamata; Agamidae) from Peninsular Malaysia.

Cosmocercoides malayensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Gonocephalus liogaster (Squamata, Agamidae) from Peninsular Malaysia is described and illustrated. Cosmocercoides malayensis sp. nov. represents the 23rd species assigned to the genus and the 10th species from the Oriental biogeographical region. Cosmocercoides malayensis sp. nov. differs from the previously described Oriental species in number and position of rosette papillae; however, it is most similar to C. bufonis and C. rickae in that these 3 species have 6 post cloacal rosette papillae. Cosmocercoides bufonis possesses a prebulbar copular swelling, which is absent in C. malayensis; C. rickae posssesess somatic papillae, which are absent in C. malayensis. Three addtional nematode species were found, adult specimens of Meteterakis singaporensis and Orneoascaris sandoshami and larva of Physocephalus sp.

A new species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) and other helminths in Cyrtodactylus gubaot (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Philippines.

Cosmocerca leytensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Cyrtodactylus gubaot (Squamata: Gekkonidae) collected on Leyte Island, Philippines is described and illustrated. Cosmocerca leytensis sp. nov. is the 30th species assigned to the genus, the 4th from the Oriental region, and the first from the Philippine Islands. The new species is most similar to those species possessing 4 pairs of plectanes, i.e., C. archeyi, C. australis, C. oroensis, and C sardiniae. Cosmocerca sardiniae lacks lateral alae; C. archeyi, C. australis, C. leytensis sp. nov. and C. oroensis possess lateral alae. Spicule length of C. oroensis is less than 75 µm, while C. archeyi, C. australis, and C. leytensis sp. nov. have spicule lengths greater than 75 µm. Males of C. australis possess 2 pairs of rosette caudal papillae, which are lacking in C. archeyi and C. leytensis sp. nov. Females of C. archeyi posses a conical tail, females of C. leytensis sp. nov. have a rounded posterior end supporting a flexible filament.