Cosmocerca goroensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from South Africa and its phylogenetic relationships with other cosmocercids based on partial 28S sequences.

Nematodes of the genus Cosmocerca are commonly found in various amphibians in South Africa and in most cases are identified as C. ornata. However, after detailed morphological studies and molecular approaches, three new species of the genus were recently described from three different frogs in South Africa. In present study, we describe another new species - Cosmocerca goroensis parasitising the Northern Pygmy Toad Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti in Soutpansberg mountains, Limpopo province, South Africa. The new species is characterised by prominent sex dimorphism, wide lateral alae, numerous somatic papillae in both sexes, and wide triangularly shaped gubernaculum and simple prominent spicules in males. Cosmocerca goroensis n. sp. distinguished from congeners, previously reported in Southern Africa by the shape of the gubernaculum and arrangement of somatic papillae in males. Morphological differences were confirmed by molecular analysis based on fragments of the 28S gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 28S gene fragments, including C. goroensis n. sp. and newly obtained sequence of C. ornata from Pelophylax lessonae from Ukraine, supported previously known data of closer relationships between species of Cosmocerca and Aplectana and more distant with Cosmocercoides spp.

New records of Amphibiophilus spp. (Nematoda: Amphibiophilidae) parasitic in Strongylopus grayii (Smith) and Amietia delalandii (Duméril & Bibron) (Amphibia: Anura: Pyxicephalidae) in South Africa, with a description of Amphibiophilus bialatus n. sp.

Nematodes of the genus Amphibiophilus Skrjabin, 1916 are a small group of parasites restricted to pyxicephalid frogs in southern Africa. In the present study, the new species A. bialatus parasitising the clicking stream frog Strongylopus grayii (Smith) as well as two forms parasitising the common river frog Amietia delalandii (Duméril & Bibron) from two distant localities are described. Amphibiophilus bialatus n. sp. clearly differs from the remaining species of the genus by having wide cervical alae, the dorsal oesophageal tooth not reaching the oral opening, and the presence of extra processes on the spicules. Specimens parasitising Am. delalandii in Mpumalanga Province and Limpopo Province, South Africa, differed from other species and from each other in the shape of the gubernaculum, though were almost identical in other characters. Based on morphological and molecular data, specimens from two localities were assigned to Amphibiophilus sp. 1 and Amphibiophilus sp. 2. Pairwise analyses of ITS-28S and cox1 gene fragments are presented for four Amphibiophilus spp.

Description and molecular characterisation of a new nematode species parasitic in the lungs of Strongylopus grayii (Smith) (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) in South Africa.

Rhabdias delangei n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) is described from the lungs of the clicking stream frog Strongylopus grayii (Smith) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The new species is characterised by the nerve-ring being located just posterior to the mid-length of the oesophagus, a pre-equatorial vulva, as well as a thin-walled and apparently underdeveloped rectum. Pairwise analyses based on ITS-28S and partial cox1 gene fragments showed significant differences between R. delangei n. sp. and its congeners from the Afrotropical Realm. Rhabdias delangei n. sp. is the 12th species of Rhabdias Stiles & Hassall, 1905 recorded in Afrotropical amphibians and the second species of the genus found in pyxicephalid hosts. Our phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS-28S region showed that the new species is closely related to the European species R. rubrovenosa (Schneider, 1866). Furthermore, both species are similar with respect to the underdeveloped rectum and pre-equatorial position of vulva.

Serpinema cayennensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Camallanidae), a parasite of the freshwater turtle Rhinoclemmys punctularia Daudin (Reptilia: Testudines: Geoemydidae) from French Guiana: morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other turtle-parasitising camallanids.

The genus Serpinema was erected from the genus Camallanus to include species parasitising freshwater turtles. Following this, the taxonomic status of Serpinema was challenged by different authors considering it as a subgenus or junior synonym of Camallanus. Several specimens of these nematodes were retrieved from the spot-legged wood turtle Rhinoclemmys punctularia from Cayenne, French Guiana. These specimens clearly differed from previously reported Serpinema and Camallanus species parasitising turtles by the number of caudal papillae, shape of spicules and development of vulvar lips. Based on morphological characters the nematodes were assigned to the genus Serpinema and described as a new species S. cayennensis n. sp. The description followed by the molecular data analyses based on 28S, 18S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences.