Two species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) newly recorded from marine fishes off South Australia, including Philometra inconveniens n. sp. from Hyporhamphus melanochir (Valenciennes) (Hemiramphidae).

Recent examinations of some marine fishes from off the coast of South Australia revealed the presence of two species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae): P. inconveniens n. sp. from the ovary (males) and body cavity (subgravid female) of the southern garfish Hyporhamphus melanochir (Valenciennes) (Beloniformes, Hemiramphidae) and Philometra sp. (gravid and subgravid females) from the body cavity of the Australian barracuda Sphyraena novaehollandiae Günther (Perciformes, Sphyraenidae) (new host and geographical records). Specimens of species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra inconveniens n. sp. differs from the most similar species P. longa Moravec, Barton & Shamsi, 2021, a parasite of the body cavity of the congeneric host off eastern Australia, mainly by a different structure of the gubernaculum (absence of dorsal barbs and presence of lateral extensions on its distal portion). This indicates a high degree of host specificity of these nematodes in co-occuring congeneric hosts.

Philometra longa n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae), a new parasite from the abdominal cavity of the eastern sea garfish Hyporhamphus australis (Hemiramphidae, Beloniformes) off Australia.

A new nematode species, Philometra longa n. sp. (Philometridae), is described from male and female specimens collected from the body cavity of the marine fish, Hyporhamphus australis (Steindachner) (Hemirhamphidae, Beloniformes) from off the south-eastern coast of Australia. Based on examination by light and scanning electron microscopy, the new species differs from those parasitising other beloniform hosts mainly in the body length (4.69 mm), the length of spicules (141 µm) and the structure of the caudal end and the distal tip of gubernaculum in the male, and in the conspicuously long body (455-560 mm) of the gravid female. Philometra longa n. sp. is the first species of philometrids described from fishes of the family Hemiramphidae. It is the 26th nominal species of philometrids and the 19th species of Philometra so far recorded from Australian marine and brackish waters. Re-examined museum specimens of Philometra sp. from Hyporhamphus melanochir (Valenciennes) off Tasmania, as well as those previously reported from the same host species off the Australian coast, were found to be identical with P. longa sp. n.

New records of Philometra spp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine perciform fishes off Florida, USA, including descriptions of two new species.

Recent examinations of marine perciform fishes from off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida, USA, revealed the presence of the following six species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae): P. haemulontis sp. n. (males and females) from the ovary of Haemulon plumierii (Lacepède) (type host) and H. aurolineatum Cuvier (both Haemulidae); Philometra synagridis Moravec, Bakenhaster et Fajer-Ávila, 2014 (males and females) from the ovary and testes of Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus) (Lutjanidae); P. margolisi Moravec, Vidal-Martínez et Aguirre-Macedo, 1995 (male) from the ovary of Hyporthodus nigritus (Holbrook) (Serranidae) (new host record; probably a paradefinitive host); P. andersoni sp. n. (male) from the ovary of H. nigritus; Philometra sp. 1 (male) from the ovary of Rhomboplites aurorubens (Cuvier) (Lutjanidae); and Philometra sp. 2 (females) from the subcutaneous tissue of the anterior-most head sinuses of Hyporthodus niveatus (Valenciennes) (Serranidae). Specimens of species are described and illustrated based on light and (except for Philometra sp. 1) scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra haemulontis sp. n. differs from all congeners in the unique structure of the gubernaculum, whereas P. andersoni sp. n. can be differentiated from other gonad-infecting congeners parasitising the Serranidae by a combination of morphological features. Females of P. synagridis are described for the first time. Gravid females of Philometra sp. 2 are similar to those of P. morii Moravec, Bakenhaster et Fajer-Ávila, 2010, a subcutaneous parasite of Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes) (Serranidae) in the Gulf of Mexico.

New records of spirurid nematodes (Nematoda, Spirurida, Guyanemidae, Philometridae & Cystidicolidae) from marine fishes off New Caledonia, with redescriptions of two species and erection of Ichthyofilaroides n. gen.

Recent examinations of spirurid nematodes (Spirurida) from deep-sea or coral reef marine fishes off New Caledonia, collected in the years 2006-2009, revealed the presence of the following five species: Ichthyofilaroides novaecaledoniensis (Moravec et Justine, 2009) n. gen., n. comb. (transferred from Ichthyofilaria Yamaguti, 1935) (females) (Guyanemidae) from the deep-sea fish Hoplichthys citrinus (Hoplichthyidae, Scorpaeniformes), Philometra sp. (male fourth-stage larva and mature female) (Philometridae) from Epinephelus maculatus (Serranidae, Perciformes), Ascarophis (Dentiascarophis) adioryx Machida, 1981 (female) (Cystidicolidae) from Sargocentron spiniferum (Holocentridae, Beryciformes), Ascarophis (Ascarophis) nasonis Machida, 1981 (males and females) from Naso lituratus and N. unicornis (Acanthuridae, Perciformes), and Ascarophisnema tridentatum Moravec et Justine, 2010 (female) from Gymnocranius grandoculis (Lethrinidae, Perciformes). Two species, I. novaecaledoniensis and A. nasonis, are redescribed based on light microscopical (LM) and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations, the latter used in these species for the first time. Morphological data on the specimen of A. tridentatum from the new host species are provided. Philometra sp. (from E. maculatus) most probably represents a new gonad-infecting species of this genus. The newly established genus Ichthyofilaroides n. gen. is characterized mainly by the presence of a small buccal capsule and by the number and distribution of cephalic papillae in the female; it is the sixth genus in the Guyanemidae.

TITLE: Nouvelles mentions de nématodes spirurides (Nematoda, Spirurida, Guyanemidae, Philometridae & Cystidicolidae) de poissons marins de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, avec redescriptions de deux espèces et érection d'Ichthyofilaroides n. gen. ABSTRACT: L'étude récente de nématodes Spirurida de poissons marins de mer profonde ou des récifs coralliens au large de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, collectés dans les années 2006-2009, a révélé la présence des cinq espèces suivantes : Ichthyofilaroides novaecaledoniensis (Moravec et Justine, 2009) n. gen., n. comb. (transféré depuis Ichthyofilaria Yamaguti, 1935) (femelles) (Guyanemidae) du poisson de profondeur Hoplichthys citrinus (Hoplichthyidae, Scorpaeniformes), Philometra sp. (larve mâle de quatrième stade et femelle mûre) (Philometridae) d'Epinephelus maculatus (Serranidae, Perciformes), Ascarophis (Dentiascarophis) adioryx Machida, 1981 (femelle) (Cystidicolidae) de Sargocentron spiniferum (Holocentridae, Beryciformes), Ascarophis (Ascarophis) nasonis Machida, 1981 (mâles et femelles) de Naso lituratus et N. unicornis (Acanthuridae, Perciformes), et Ascarophisnema tridentatum Moravec et Justine, 2010 (femelle) de Gymnocranius grandoculis (Lethrinidae, Perciformes). Deux espèces, I. novaecaledoniensis et A. nasonis, sont redécrites sur la base de la microscopie optique et de la microscopie électronique à balayage, cette dernière étant utilisée pour la première fois chez ces espèces. Des données morphologiques sur le spécimen d'A. tridentatum de la nouvelle espèce hôte sont fournies. Philometra sp. (d'E. maculatus) représente très probablement une nouvelle espèce infectant les gonades de ce genre. Le genre nouvellement établi Ichthyofilaroides n. gen. se caractérise principalement par la présence d'une petite capsule buccale et par le nombre et la répartition des papilles céphaliques chez la femelle. C'est le sixième genre des Guyanemidae.

New records of philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off Japan, including description of Philometra kidakoi sp. n. and Congerinema japonicum gen. et sp. n.

Occasional examinations of some marine fishes in Japan revealed, in addition to other parasites, the following eight species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) (all females only): Philometra kidakoi sp. n. from the ovary of Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck et Schlegel) (Muraenidae); Philometra pinnicola (Yamaguti, 1935) from the operculum of Epinephelus akaara (Temminck et Schlegel) (Serranidae); Philometra sebastisci Yamaguti, 1941 from the ovary of Sebastes cheni Barsukov (Scorpaenidae) (new host); Philometra madai Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker) (Sparidae) (new host); Philometra isaki Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Parapristipoma trilineatum (Thunberg) (Haemulidae); Philometra sp. from the ovary of Synanceia verrucosa Bloch et Schneider (Synanceiidae); Congerinema japonicum gen. et sp. n. from the subcutaneous tissue of Conger myriaster (Brevoort) (Congridae); and Clavinema mariae (Layman, 1930) from the operculum of Acentrogobius pflaumii (Bleeker) (Gobiidae). Specimens of all species are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra kidakoi sp. n. is the first gonad-infecting philometrid from the Muraenidae. The new monotypic genus Congerinema gen. n. is characterised by the unique net-like cuticular ornamentation on the female body. Clavinema mariae is considered to be a complex of several cryptic species and a need of the discovery of conspecific males is stressed (this also concerns other philometrid species with unknown males). At present, the fauna of philometrid nematodes parasitising marine fishes in Japanese waters is represented by 22 nominal species belonging to four genera.

First description of the male and subgravid female of Philometra serranellicabrillae Janiszewska, 1949 (Nematoda: Philometridae), a gonad-infecting parasite of the comber Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus) (Serranidae) off Tunisia.

The male and subgravid female of Philometra serranellicabrillae Janiszewska, 1949 (Philometridae) collected from the gonads of Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus) (Serranidae) off Tunisia are described for the first time based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies. The male of this nematode can be separated from other congeneric gonad-infecting nominal species in the structure and shape of the gubernaculum (e.g. absence of a dorsal protuberance and a median smooth field). The shape of the male posterior region is unique in that it bears a pair of big circular papillae posterior to the cloacal opening, which is also present in other Philometra spp. from serranids, i.e. P. indica Moravec & Manoharan, 2014, P. inexpectata Moravec, Chaabane, Justine & Neifar, 2016 and P. jordanoi (López-Neyra, 1951) Yamaguti, 1961. Moreover, P. serranellicabrillae differs from its congeners in other fish families from the Mediterranean Sea, in the length of spicules and gubernaculum.

First description of the male of Philometroides acreanensis and phylogenetic assessment of Philometridae (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) suggest instability of some taxa.

The male of Philometroides acreanensis, parasitic in the anterior intestine external wall of the freshwater catfish Pimelodus blochii, from the Brazilian Amazon, is described for the first time. Additional data on the morphology of females is given. The new morphological data strengthened the validity of the species as well as its first genetic characterization, using three nuclear genetic markers (18S and 28S of the rDNA and ITS1-58S-ITS2), confirmed the high genetic resemblance of male and female specimens. Philometroides acreanensis shows morphological features of the generic diagnosis of Neophilometroides, Alinema, Philometra and Philometroides. Phylogenetic analyses using sequences of the18S rDNA from representatives of Dracunculoidea confirmed the validity of P. acreanensis and its close relatedness with Alinema rather than with other genera. The validity of Philonemidae was confirmed, as was the monophyly of Philometridae and Clavinema. However, Dentiphilometra, Philometra and Philometroides appear not to be monophyletic. Host taxa, habitat and geographic occurrence seem to have some relationship with the evolutionary traits of certain phylogenetic assemblages of philometrids, which were highly supported in the phylogentic reconstructions. Even though interesting aspects of the phylogeny and taxonomy of Philometridae came to light, further integrative approaches should be used that include additional genetic markers, due to the loose boundaries between some genera as observed here.

Philometra barbata n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Perciformes, Mullidae) off Tunisia.

Helminthological examinations of the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Linnaeus) (Mullidae) from the Gulf of Hammamet, off Tunisia, revealed the presence of one undescribed gonad-infecting nematode species, Philometra barbata n. sp. (Philometridae). The new species as other congeneric species is mainly characterized by the shape of the caudal mound, the distribution of the caudal papillae and the shape of the gubernaculum with the presence of a dorsal protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field in the male. The new species differs from its gonadinfecting congeners in the body length of male, the length of spicules and gubernaculum. This is the second nominal species of Philometra reported from fishes of the family Mullidae and the 14th from the Mediterranean Sea.

Redescription of Philometra pellucida (Jägerskiöld, 1893) (Nematoda: Philometridae) parasitic in the abdominal cavity of the blackspotted puffer Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider) (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off Australia and Japan.

The nematode Philometra pellucida (Jägerskiöld, 1893) (Philometridae) is redescribed from female specimens obtained from the abdominal cavity of the marine tetraodontiform fish (blackspotted puffer) Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider) (Tetraodontidae) off Lizard Island, Australia and off Okinawa, Japan. This is just the second record of this parasite since its description 125 years ago. Light and scanning electron microscopical examination of these nematodes revealed some taxonomically important, previously unreported morphological features, such as the number and arrangement of cephalic papillae, presence of the oesophageal cell nucleus and the size of first-stage larvae in the uterus. This new report of P. pellucida infecting A. nigropunctatus off Australia and Japan represents new host and geographical records. A key to the species of Philometra Costa, 1845 parasitising tetraodontiform fishes is provided.

New records of philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off Australia, including description of four new species and erection of Digitiphilometroides gen. n.

The following six species of the Philometridae (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) were recorded from marine fishes off the northern coast of Australia in 2015 and 2016: Philometra arafurensis sp. n. and Philometra papillicaudata sp. n. from the ovary and the tissue behind the gills, respectively, of the emperor red snapper Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier); Philometra mawsonae sp. n. and Dentiphilometra malabarici sp. n. from the ovary and the tissue behind the gills, respectively, of the Malabar blood snapper Lutjanus malabaricus (Bloch et Schneider); Philometra sp. from the ovary of the goldbanded jobfish Pristipomoides multidens (Day) (Perciformes: all Lutjanidae); and Digitiphilometroides marinus (Moravec et de Buron, 2009) comb. n. from the body cavity of the cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus) (Perciformes: Rachycentridae). Digitiphilometroides gen. n. is established based on the presence of unique digital cuticular ornamentations on the female body. New gonad-infecting species, P. arafurensis and P. mawsonae, are characterised mainly by the length of spicules (252-264 µm and 351-435 µm, respectively) and the structure of the gubernaculum, whereas P. papillicaudata is characterised mainly by the body length (70 mm) of gravid female, extent of the oesophageal gland, size of caudal projections and the location in the host. Dentiphilometra malabarici differs from congeners mainly in the arrangement of circumoral teeth (in a single row), extent of the oesophageal gland and the absence of sclerotised teeth or protuberances on the oesophageal lobes in the mouth. Digitiphilometroides marinus has not previously been reported from fishes in Australian waters.

Two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from Trachinus spp. (Osteichthyes: Trachinidae) in the Gulf of Hammamet, Tunisia.

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845, P. draco n. sp. and P. radiata n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae), are described from the marine perciform fishes Trachinus draco (Linnaeus) and T. radiatus (Linnaeus) (both Trachinidae), respectively, in the Gulf of Hammamet, off the northeastern coast of Tunisia. Philometra draco n. sp. and P. radiata n. sp. can be separated from other gonad-infecting species of this genus by the structures associated to the gubernaculum (e.g. dorsal protuberance, smooth field separating the dorsolateral longitudinal parts), as well as by the length of the body, spicules and gubernaculum. Philometra radiata n. sp. can be distinguished from P. draco n. sp. in having the dorsal side of the gubernaculum distal end provided with a median longitudinal smooth field demarcated by two dorsolateral lamellate parts. These two new species are the first philometrid species described from fishes of the family Trachinidae.

Redescription of Philometra filiformis (Stossich, 1896) (Nematoda: Philometridae), a gonad-infecting parasite of the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus) (Sparidae) in the Mediterranean Sea, including new taxonomic features revealed by SEM.

The insufficiently known nematode species Philometra filiformis (Stossich, 1896) (Philometridae) is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations of specimens collected from the ovaries of the type-host, the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus) (Perciformes, Sparidae), from off the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia. The male of this species was studied with SEM for the first time, which revealed some new, taxonomically important morphological features. The male posterior end has a caudal mound consisting of two lateral parts widely separated dorsally from each other, four pairs of small adanal papillae, a pair of large but moderately developed papillae located posterior to the cloacal aperture and a pair of small phasmids. The distal end of the gubernaculum is unique among all but one gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 by the chevron-shaped dorsal lamellar structures forming a median longitudinal range. Philometra filiformis is for the first time reported from Tunisian coastal waters, being the seventh philometrid species so far recorded from marine fishes off Tunisia.

Micropleura huchzermeyeri n. sp. (Camallanida: Dracunculoidea: Micropleuridae) from the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti (Reptilia: Crocodylidae), in South Africa.

Micropleura huchzermeyeri n. sp. (Camallanida: Dracunculoidea: Micropleuridae) is described from the peritoneal cavity of Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti (Reptilia: Crocodylidae), based on a detailed study of its morphology using light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species is compared with its congeners, M. australiensis Moravec, Kay & Hobbs, 2004, M. vazi Travassos, 1933 and M. vivipara von Linstow, 1906 from crocodilians, and with M. indica Khera, 1951 from chelonian hosts. It can be distinguished from these by the length of its spicules, which are longer than in all described species and a combination of characters, including the presence of prominent lateral caudal papillae on the level of the cloaca in males, the presence of conspicuous phasmids on the female tail, the pre-equatorial position of the vulva and the length of the first-stage larvae. Micropleura huchzermeyeri n. sp. is further characterised by having 14 cephalic papillae in both sexes and ten pairs of caudal papillae in males. This is the first report of a representative of the genus Micropleura von Linstow, 1906 from a crocodilian in the Afrotropical region. Micropleura helicospicula Dey Sarkar, 2003 is considered a species incertae sedis.

Barracudia australiensis n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the obtuse barracuda Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae) off eastern Australia.

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, a new nematode parasite, Barracudia australiensis n. sp. (Philometridae), is described from the gall-bladder of the marine fish (obtuse barracuda) Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier (Sphyraenidae, Perciformes) from off the eastern Pacific coast of Australia, for which a new genus Barracudia n. g. is established. This new genus is mainly characterised by features found in the male: sickle-shaped, ventrally curved spicules, a gubernacum with a broad, dorsally bent distal portion and a markedly dorsoventrally elongated cloacal aperture. Based on these features, Barracudia spp. conspicuously differ from representatives of all other philometrid genera with known males. Philometra philippinensis Quiazon & Yoshinaga, 2013 is transferred to Barracudia as B. philippinensis (Quiazon & Yoshinaga, 2013) n. comb. Barracudia australiensis is the third nominal species of philometrids described from the Sphyraenidae and the 19th species of the Philometridae recorded from fishes in Australian waters.

Species of Philometra (Nematoda, Philometridae) from fishes off the Mediterranean coast of Africa, with a description of Philometra rara n. sp. from Hyporthodus haifensis and a molecular analysis of Philometra saltatrix from Pomatomus saltatrix.

Two gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) were recorded for the first time from marine perciform fishes off Tunisia and Libya: Philometra rara n. sp. from the rare, deep-water Haifa grouper Hyporthodus haifensis (Serranidae) off Libya and Philometra saltatrix Ramachandran, 1973 from the bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix (Pomatomidae) off Tunisia. Identification of both fish species was confirmed by molecular barcoding. Light and scanning electron microscope studies of Ph. rara n. sp. showed that it is characterized by the length of spicules (216-219 µm) and the gubernaculum (90-93 µm), the gubernaculum/spicules length ratio (1:2.32-2.43), and mainly by the shape and structure of the distal end of the gubernaculum (shovel-shaped with a wide median smooth field in dorsal view), appearing as having a dorsal protuberance in lateral view, and by the structure of the male caudal mound (dorsally interrupted); large subgravid females (70-137 mm long) are characterized by the presence of four oval submedian cephalic elevations, each of them bearing a pair of cephalic papillae of the outer circle. The finding of Ph. saltatrix off Tunisia confirms that this species is widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. A molecular analysis of our Ph. saltatrix specimens and other available philometrid cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) sequences showed that most species have robust clades. Sequences of Ph. saltatrix from Tunisia diverge from Ph. saltatrix from Brazil and the USA, suggesting that speciation is currently occurring between populations from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Nematode parasites of four species of Carangoides (Osteichthyes: Carangidae) in New Caledonian waters, with a description of Philometra dispar n. sp. (Philometridae).

Parasitological examination of marine perciform fishes belonging to four species of Carangoides, i.e. C. chrysophrys, C. dinema, C. fulvoguttatus and C. hedlandensis (Carangidae), from off New Caledonia revealed the presence of nematodes. The identification of carangids was confirmed by barcoding of the COI gene. The eight nematode species found were: Capillariidae gen. sp. (females), Cucullanus bulbosus (Lane, 1916) (male and females), Hysterothylacium sp. third-stage larvae, Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) sp. (female and larvae), Terranova sp. third-stage larvae, Philometra dispar n. sp. (male), Camallanus carangis Olsen, 1954 (females) and Johnstonmawsonia sp. (female). The new species P. dispar from the abdominal cavity of C. dinema is mainly characterised by the body length (5.14 mm), the lengths of markedly unequal spicules (163 and 96 µm) and gubernaculum (102 µm long) provided with a dorsal protuberance and a small, reflexed dorsal barb on its posterior portion. The finding of C. bulbosus represents the first record of this parasite a century after its discovery; the first study of this species by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) enabled detailed redescription. The finding of Johnstonmawsonia sp. in C. fulvoguttatus is the first record of a rhabdochonid nematode from a host belonging to the Carangidae family. Johnstonmawsonia africana Moravec & Puylaert, 1970 and J. campanae Puylaert, 1973 are transferred to Prosungulonema Roytman, 1963 as P. africanum (Moravec & Puylaert, 1970) comb. n. and P. campanae (Puylaert, 1973) n. comb.

Descriptions of two new species of Quasithelazia Maplestone, 1932 (Spirurida: Acuariidae) and a redescription of Alinema sturni Jögis, 1968 from birds in Australia.

Quasithelazia minuta n. sp. and Quasithelazia pearsoni n. sp. (Spirurida: Acuariidae) are described from Todiramphus sanctus (Vigors & Horsfield) (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae) in Australia. Alinema sturni Jögis, 1968 from Sturnus vulgaris (L.) (Passeriformes: Sturnidae) in Europe, is considered to belong in the subfamily Schistorophinae Travassos, 1918 (and not in the Seuratiinae Chitwood & Wehr, 1932, where it has previously been placed) on the basis of the number of the pairs of precloacal papillae. The latter species, known from its original record only, is found as parasitic in diverse passerine birds in Australia, namely Psophodes olivaceus (Latham) (Psophodidae), Falcunculus frontatus (Latham) (Pachycephalidae), Colluricincla harmonica (Latham) (Pachycephalidae), Malurus cyaneus (Ellis) (Maluridae) and Ptilotula penicillata (Gould) (Meliphagidae). Alinema sturni is considered an alien species for Australia that has been introduced with its host (starling) and subsequently adapted to a wide range of native avian hosts.

Descriptions of Philometra aenei n. sp. and P. tunisiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from Epinephelus spp. off Tunisia confirm a high degree of host specificity of gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 in groupers (Serranidae).

Based on light and electron microscopical studies of males and mature females, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from the ovary of groupers, Epinephelus spp. (Perciformes; Serranidae), in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia (near Sfax): Philometra aenei n. sp. from the white grouper E. aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire) and P. tunisiensis n. sp. from the goldblotch grouper E. costae (Steindachner). Identification of both fish hosts was confirmed by barcoding of the infected fish specimens. Philometra aenei is mainly characterised by the length of conspicuously distended spicules (108-123 µm), the presence of a distinct dorsal barb at the middle region of the gubernaculum and a distinct protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field at its distal tip, a V-shaped mound on the male caudal extremity and by the body length of the males (2.34-3.05 mm). The male of this species was found to possess minute deirids in the cervical region, which is quite exceptional within the Philometridae. Philometra tunisiensis is distinguished from other gonad-infecting congeneric species parasitising serranids by the length of the needle-like spicules and gubernaculum (201-219 and 78-87 µm, respectively), spicule length representing 9-11% of body length, the gubernaculum/spicules length ratio of 1:2.52-2.77, the length of oesophagus in the male comprising 15-16% of the body length, the absence of a dorsal protuberance on the distal lamellar part of the gubernaculum and a pair of large papillae posterior to the cloaca, a dorsally interrupted mound on the male caudal extremity and the body length of the male (2.01-2.42 mm). The presence of three morphologically very different species of Philometra in congeneric hosts in the Mediterranean Sea confirms a high degree of host specificity of these gonad-infecting nematodes parasitising groupers.

New records of philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off Iraq, with the erection of two new species and the first description of the male of Philometroides eleutheronemae Moravec & Manoharan, 2013.

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, the following five species of philometrid nematodes (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from marine fishes from off Basrah, southern Iraq (Arabian Gulf): Philometra iraqiensis n. sp. (females) from the abdominal cavity and ovary of the Klunzinger's mullet Liza klunzingeri (Day) (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae), P. megalaspidis n. sp. (females) from the ovary of the torpedo scad Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus) (Perciformes: Carangidae), Philometra sp. 1 (females) from the ovary of the greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil (Bloch) (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae), Philometra sp. 2 (females) from the ovary of the bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus) (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) and Philometroides eleutheronemae Moravec & Manoharan, 2013 (male and females) from the ovary of the fourfinger threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw) (Perciformes: Polynemidae). The new species are characterised mainly by the body length, the length and structure of the oesophagus and caudal end and by the family of their fish hosts. The male and the gravid female of P. eleutheronemae are described for the first time; the finding of this species in Iraqi waters represents the first record of this nematode in the region of the Arabian (=Persian) Gulf.

Avioserpens in the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis): A new Host and Geographic Record for a Dracunculoid Nematode and Implications of Migration and Climate Change.

We report a new host and geographic range for the dracunculoid nematode (Avioserpens sp.) in a Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) from southern Arizona, US. This discovery underscores the importance of parasite discovery and identification in the wildlife rehabilitation setting. Climate change and weather events affect the migratory spread of unusual parasites.