Description of a New Species of Rhabdias Stiles and Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae) in Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1899) from West Bengal, India.

AIMS: The purpose of this article is to describe a new species of Rhabdias Stiles and Hassall, 1905 from West Bengal, India. Rhabdias bengalensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae) recovered from the lungs of Asian common toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1899), collected from Illambazar town, Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. METHODS: The collected nematode specimens were clean by shaking them in 0.67% NaCl solution and were killed and fixed in steaming 70% alcohol; lactophenol was used as a mounting medium for light microscopic examination. The lactophenol treated specimens after examination were directly transferred to 70% alcohol and could be stored satisfactorily. RESULTS: The new species is named as, R. bengalensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae), in reference to its locality of collection, West Bengal, India. The worms are small [(2.84-2.96 mm) in length], anterior end somewhat truncated and posterior end tapering. R. bengalensis sp. nov. is characterised by rounded mouth without lips, inflated cuticle, cup-shaped buccal capsule, pre-equatorial vulva and a conical tail. CONCLUSION: The present nematodes, thus, appear to be new in the field of science and name R. bengalensis sp. nov. is proposed for them. R. bengalensis sp. nov. represents 17th species described from oriental region and the 10th species from India.

Cosmocerca bengalensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1803) (Amphibia, Anura, Dicroglossidae) from West Bengal, India.

Cosmocerca bengalensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) recovered from the rectum of an Indian bullfrog, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1803), collected from Hetampur town in Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to C. acanthurum, C. banyulensis, C. cruzi, C. japonica, C. kalesari, C. microhylae, C. novaeguineae, C. ornata, C. paraguayensis, C. parva, C. podicipinus and C. travassosi in having 5 pairs of plectanes supporting preanal papillae but differs from these species by general morphometry, absence of somatic papillae in females, absence of gubernaculum and having only one pair of adanal papillae in males and one pair postanal papillae in females except C. microhylae. Present parasites differ from C. microhylae by absence of gubernaculum and general morphometry. Cosmocerca bengalensis sp. nov. represents the thirtheith species assigned to the genus, seventh from Oriental region and fifth species from India.

Camallanides prashadi Baylis and Daubney, 1922 (Nematoda, Camallanidae) in Xenchropis piscator (Schneider, 1799) (Reptilia, Squamata) and discussion on the synonymy of Camallanides piscatori Khera, 1954 from West Bengal, India.

Camallanides prashadi Baylis and Daubney, 1922, recovered from the intestine of Asiatic water snake, Xenchropis piscator (Schneider, 1799), collected from the Bolpur town, Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, is redescribed. This species is characterised by presence of buccal capsule which is reddish-brown in colour and consists of two lateral buccal valves. Each buccal valve bears five complete and four incomplete longitudinal ridges, presence of similar, non-alate, unequal spicules and fourteen pairs of pedunculated caudal papillae. Of these papillae, seven pairs are preanal, two pairs are adanal and five pairs are postanal in position. Camallanides piscatori Khera, 1954 is proposed as a synonym for Camallanides prashadi Baylis and Daubney, 1922. Birbhum district is recorded as new geographical locality for this parasite.

On a new species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from Microhyla rubra (Anura: Microhylidae) from West Bengal, India.

Cosmocerca microhylae sp. nov., recovered from the rectum of a red narrow-mouthed frog, Microhyla rubra (Jerdon, 1854) (Anura: Microhylidae), collected from Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, is described and figured. This species is similar to C. acanthurum, C. banyulensis, C. cruzi, C. japonica, C. kalesari, C. novaeguineae, C. ornata, C. paraguayensis, C. parva, C. podicipinus and C. travassosi in having 5 pairs of plectanes supporting preanal papillae but differs from these species by smaller size, absence of somatic papillae in females and having only one pair of adanal papillae in males and one pair postanal papillae in females. Cosmocerca microhylae sp. nov. represents 27th species assigned to the genus, and 4th species from India.

Aplectana dubrajpuri sp. nov. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Dubrajpur, Birbhum, West Bengal, India.

Aplectana dubrajpuri sp. nov., recovered from the rectum of Indian bull frog, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, collected from Dubrajpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, is described and illustrated. This species is characterised by absence of gubernaculum and differs from other species of Aplectana which lack a gubernaculum (viz. A. akhrami, A. artigasi, A. chilensis, A. crossodactyli, A. crucifer, A. delirae, A. meridionalis, A. papillifera, A. praeputialis, A. tarija and A. vercammeni) by smaller size of males and females, absence of somatic papillae in females and number and distribution of caudal papillae in males which include 3 pairs precloacal, 1 pair adcloacal, 14 pairs postcloacal and a single unpaired small papilla on the upper lip of cloaca. Aplectana dubrajpuri sp. nov. represents 51st species assigned to the genus and 3rd from India.

On a new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) from Kulti, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.

During routine survey for amphibian nematodes from coalfield areas of West Bengal, India 7 male and 12 female nematodes were recovered from the rectum of one out of three Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1899) examined for helminth infection from Kulti, Burdwan. On examination the recovered nematodes were found to belong to a new species of the genus Aplectana (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) and the name Aplectana duttaphryni sp. nov. is proposed for them. This species is most similar to those species which possess gubernaculum but differs from all by distribution pattern of caudal papillae. Aplectana duttaphryni sp. nov. represents 49(th) species assigned to the genus, but only the 4(th) species reported from Oriental realm and second from India.

Data on the morphology of Viguiera dicrurusi Gupta, 1960 (Nematoda: Habronematidae) with notes on related forms.

Morphology of the nematode Viguiera dicrurusi Gupta, 1960 harboured by Dicrurus macrocercus albirictus (Hodgson) (Passseriformes: Dicruridae) from Baruipara in 24-Pargonas (South) district, West Bengal, India was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This represents the first study of V. dicrurusi using SEM. Scanning electron micrographs provided detailed information about the nature of pseudolabial plates, number and shape of teeth, dentate nature of striae, and the relative position of vulva, anus and phasmid opening in female. A detailed morphometrical comparison of this species with Viguiera viduae Chabaud, 1960 described from Dicrurus forficatus from Madagascar indicates that V. viduae is a junior synonym of V. dicrurusi. Two other species, Viguiera bhujangai Jehan, 1972 and Viguiera adsimilisai Sood et Kalia, 1978 are considered species inquirendae.