A NEW SPECIES OF PHYLLODISTOMUM (TREMATODA: GORGODERIDAE, LOOSS, 1899) FROM FRESHWATER FISH WALLAGO ATTU IN AKOLA DISTRICT (M.S.) INDIA

The present investigation deals with the systematic observation of a new species of Phyllodistomum khadensis Sp. Nov. from fresh water fish Wallago attu. The worm is close to all species of genus phyllodistomum in general the body is narrow while the posterior portion of the body is broad and triangular in shape. The oral sucker is terminal. The ventral sucker is rounded in structure and larger than oral sucker. The bladder is long and tubular.The anterior testis is smaller than posterior one. Vas deferans is long, tubular and forms vasa efferentia. Female reproductive organ includes single ovary having its duct. The vitelline glands are two in number compact lobes on either side of the ootype. The eggs are oval to round in shape.

A new genus and species of the family Microlaimidae (Nematoda: Chromadorea) from intertidal sand of the Jeju Island, South Korea

As a part of the study of marine nematofauna of a sandy intertidal zone of Jeju Island (South Korea), a number of species have been proven as new for science. Here a new species representing a new genus of the family Microlaimidae (Chromadorea), Jejulaimus sinyangensis gen. n., sp. n. is described. The new monotypic genus is characterized by head set off abruptly from the body; anterior sensilla pattern 6+10, where six outer labial setiform sensilla together with four longer cephalic setiform sensilla are integrated in a common crown; pharyngostoma armed with a dorsal tooth and surrounded by convex muscular pharyngeal tissue, forming an anterior pharyngeal bulb which is distinctly set off from the rest of the pharynx; terminal pharyngeal bulb oval; ventral pore and ampulla of the excretory-secretory gland situated just posterior to the nerve ring; an only anterior testis present. The new genus bears some resemblance to the genera Bolbolaimus, Pseudomicrolaimus and Spirobolbolaimus in having an anterior pharyngeal bulb and in the position of the ventral pore of the excretory/secretory gland, but differs from them by anterior sensilla pattern 6+10, absence of subventral teeth in buccal cavity, and monorchic condition of male reproductive system.

Oncicola luehei IN A WILD CRAB-EATING RACCOON (Procyon cancrivorus) FROM THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO SAVANNA

The occurrence of Oncicola luehei is reported in a road killed crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) near the municipality of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State. The animal was collected as part of a study that monitors wildlife road killing in the Triângulo Mineiro region. In necropsy, a single male acanthocephalan was recovered from the large intestine. The parasite was wrinkled, whitish in color, with a total body length of 15.88mm, globular proboscis (0.71 x 0.81mm) armed with 36 spiraled hooks, long lemniscus (7.30 x 0.81 mm) surpassing the anterior testis. The testes were ellipsoid in shape, disposed in tandem, the anterior measuring 1.44 x 0.53mm and the posterior 1.5 x 0.50mm. At the posterior part of the body, eight cement glands arranged in two rows of four, measuring 0.38 x 0.46 mm each. Based on this, the parasite was classified as Oncicola luehei. This study represents a new host and locality records for the parasite.KEY WORDS: Helminthology; Acanthocephala; wildlife; road killing; Brazil.

EPISTHMIUM ALYKHANI SP.NOV.. (TREMATODA: ECHINOSTOMATIDAE) FROM THE CATTLE EGRET (BUBULCUS IBIS) IN LARKANA SINDH, PAKISTAN.

The helmintho fauna of ten specimens of Cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) from Larkana Sindh, Pakistan was studied. From all the specimens studied, the 30% were positive for helminths. The genus Episthmium9, was recovered in small intestine of Cattle egret and proposed as new species Episthmium alykhani sp.n. The new species is characterized by having: Body of parasite is flattened 6-6.24 by 2-2.5, Head collar bears 18 spines, Pre-pharynx absent, Ventral sucker is rounded, Testes tandem,anterior testis is cup shaped 0.7-0.79 by 1.52-1.63, posterior testis is roughly spherical 1- 1.2 by 1.2-1.3, Ovary horizontal elongated 0.3-0.4 by 0.8-0.86, Vitellaria dense commence from below the bifurcation reaches upto the anterior region of posterior testis.Eggs 0.17-0.22 by 0.08-0.091.

Parasphaerolaimus magdolnae sp. n. (Nematoda, Sphaerolaimidae) with intra-uterine development of its offspring from a Brazilian estuarine system

One new species of Parasphaerolaimus is described from a Brazilian estuarine system with intra-uterine development of its offspring. Parasphaerolaimus magdolnae sp. n. is distinguished from other species of the genus by the presence of only one anterior testis, spicules morphology and size and a gubernaculum without dorsal apophysis. The cuticle of the new species is striated and the position of the vulva is far posterior on the body, almost reaching the anus. The taxonomy of Parasphaerolaimus was also re-examined and two other species were transferred from Sphaerolaimus to Parasphaerolaimus after the last revision: P. pentasetus (Pastor de Ward, 1984) comb. n. and P. striatus (Allgén, 1935) comb. n. An updated identification key for all valid species of Parasphaerolaimus is included.

Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. (Digenea, Cryptogonimidae) from the freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni, in Northern Territory, Australia

Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. is described from specimens found in the intestine of an Australian freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni, from Northern Territory, Australia. The most important diagnostic features of the new species are the body proportions and size, the position of the pharynx (relative length of the prepharynx and oesophagus), the relative length and position of the vitelline fields, and the number, shape and size of the circumoral spines. The new species is morphologically most similar to Proctocaecum atae, P. elongatum, P. crocodili, P. gairhei and Acanthostomum slusarskii. It differs from all of these species in having a much longer prepharynx, and differs from both P. atae and P. crocodili in having a much longer body and posteriorly situated vitelline fields. Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. differs from P. elongatum in having a shorter body, a greater forebody to hindbody ratio, a much smaller ventral sucker, and a higher number of circumoral spines (23 vs 21 in P. elongatum). The new species differs from P. gairhei in possessing a much larger body length:width ratio and an ovary separated from the anterior testis by a seminal receptacle. Acanthostomum slusarskii lacks a gonotyl and has fewer circumoral spines than the new species. Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. is the third species of Proctocaecum and the fourth cryptogonimid species known from crocodiles in Australia.

Bucephalids (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from marine fishes off the south-western coast of Java, Indonesia, including the description of two new species of Rhipidocotyle and comments on the marine fish digenean fauna of Indonesia

Two new bucephalids are described from marine fishes from off the southern coast of Java, Indonesia. Rhipidocotyle danai n. sp. from the gempylid Thyrsitoides marleyi and R. jayai n. sp. from the sciaenid Johnius macropterus. Neither has previously been reported as host of members of the genus Rhipidocotyle. They can be distinguished from other species within the genus by a suite of characters, including the body shape, rhynchus length, pre-vitelline, pre-uterine, pre-mouth and post-testicular distances, cirrus-sac reach and egg length. Prosorhynchus platycephali is reported from the platycephalid Sunagocia otaitensis. This identification is based on the distinctly separated testes and the position of Mehlis' gland directly posterior to the anterior testis. To aid identification within these species-rich trematode genera, we have devised an illustrated metrical key that indicates the most similar described species. Nine distinct metrical features were recorded or calculated for all known marine species within Rhipidocotyle (51 known species) and Prosorhynchus (64 known species) and utilised in species identification. With about 75 identified fish trematode species, only a fraction of the expected species diversity has been recorded from Indonesia, strongly suggesting the need for greater effort for fish parasitological research in the region.

Sperm dimorphism in the free-living marine nematode Terschellingia glabricutis (Nematoda: Monhysterida: Linhomoeidae)

The structure and development of the dimorphic spermatozoa of the free-living marine nematode Terschellingia glabricutis (Monhysterida, Linhomoeina, Linhomoeidae) were studied with transmission electron microscope (TEM). The linhomoeid pattern of spermatozoa includes absence of fibrous bodies (FB) in spermatocytes and their appearance in spermatids as spindle-shaped bodies never associating with membranous organelles (MO); presence of centrioles near the sperm nucleus; occurrence of filopodia in the spermatids and immature spermatozoa; unpolarised concentric structure of the mature spermatozoa; microtubule-like elements in spermatids and spermatozoa. The linhomoeins differ from their closest relatives, monhysterins (Xyalidae, Sphaerolaimidae), by total absence of MO at all the stages of spermatogenesis. This peculiarity is also found in the sperm development of some chromadorids, desmodorids and tylenchomorphs. In T. glabricutis the anterior testis produces large (20 μm) 'macrospermatozoa' of the linhomoeid pattern; the posterior testis produces much smaller (10 μm) 'microspermatozoa' of simplified structure. The female genital tubes also contain two types of amoeboid spermatozoa of different size and internal structure. Thus, T. glabricutis demonstrates a pattern of sperm dimorphism in which each testis of the diorchic male produces its own type of spermatozoa. Both types are found in the genital tube of fertilised females. Such sperm dimorphism is known from light microscope observations for several distantly related marine species although the biological significance of this dimorphism is obscure.

Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae: Ophthalmophaginae) from the bearded barbet, Lybius dubius (Capitionidae), and the white-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis (Sturnidae), that died at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. was found in the air sacs and body cavities of 2 bearded barbets, Lybius dubius, and a white-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis, that died at the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana between June, 2000 and April, 2005. The new species can be distinguished from Szidatitrema philomachii and Szidatitrema vogeli, the only species currently assigned to this genus, by having a smaller egg size (80–105 by 40–55 compared to 117–126 by 54–72 and 110 by 50, respectively) and the testes of S. yamagutii n. sp. are less obliquely positioned relative to each other. Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. further differs from S. philomachii by lacking an oral sucker and having larger testes (anterior testis 405 by 375 compared to 270 by 210; posterior testis 435 by 370 compared to 225 by 210) and from S. vogeli by having a shorter cirrus sac (345 compared to 554) ), smaller testes (anterior testis 405 long compared to 700; posterior testis 435 long compared to 500), a smaller ovary (220–330 wide compared to 400), and a larger postovarian space (approximately 10% of body length compared to 6%). This new species was likely introduced into the Audubon Zoo through the importation of species of Old World birds.

Three new minute nematode species of the superfamily Monhysteroidea from Arctic Abyss

Three new nematode species of the superfamily Monhysteroidea were found in the Molloy Deep (Fram Strait, Arctic Ocean) at depths of > 5000 m. Amphimonhystrella bullacauda sp. n. (Xyalidae) is similar to A. unita Lorenzen 1977 but differs from it by having longer cephalic setae (1.5–3.5 versus 1.0 µm), lacking cervical setae, head set off from the body, singular anterior testis, distally pointed spicules, larger protuberant terminal tail widening. The generic diagnosis of Amphimonhystrella Timm 1961 is amended, and a dichotomous key for identification of the three Amphimonhystrella species is provided. Thalassomonhystera oxycephalata sp. n. (Monhysteridae) is distinguished from all valid Thalassomonhystera species by a number of morphological characters including narrowed cephalic end, wide amphid, short tubular weakly sclerotised stoma, esophagus gradually widening posteriorly, lacking evident renette cell, short arcuate spicules and gubernaculum with small dorsocaudal apophysis, tail with slender cylindrical portion distinctly set off. Thalassomonhystera molloyensis sp. n. is related to T. bathislandica Riemann 1995 described also from the north-eastern Atlantic abyssal but differs by having: 1) smaller body, male length 392–460 µm versus 572–684 µm, female length 376–472 µm versus 615–633 µm; 2) sclerotised lips of vulva; 3) presense of two ventral papillae or pairs of papillae, first pair in preanal position and second pair in postanal position just behind the middle of the tail. It is noteworthy that in both species the male genital tract has a variable position in relation to the intestine which is a deviation from the normal monhysterid morphology.