New species and new records of camallanid nematodes (Nematoda, Camallanidae) from marine fishes and sea snakes in New Caledonia

Recent examinations of camallanid nematodes (Camallanidae) from marine fishes off New Caledonia, collected in the years 2003–2011, revealed the presence of the following five new species of Procamallanus Baylis, 1923, all belonging to the subgenus Spirocamallanus Olsen, 1952: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) dispar n. sp. from the common ponyfish Leiognathus equulus (type host) and the striped ponyfish Aurigequula fasciata (both Leiognathidae, Perciformes); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) bothi n. sp. from the leopard flounder Bothus pantherinus (Bothidae, Pleuronectiformes); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) hexophtalmatis n. sp. from the speckled sandperch Parapercis hexophtalma (Pinguipedidae, Perciformes); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) synodi n. sp. from the sand lizardfish Synodus dermatogenys (Synodontidae, Aulopiformes); and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) thalassomatis n. sp. from the yellow-brown wrasse Thalassoma lutescens (Labridae, Perciformes). These are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) studies. An additional three congeneric nematodes unidentifiable to species are reported from perciform fishes and a shark: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 3 of Moravec et al., 2006, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 1, and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 2. Ten fish species are recorded as new hosts for Camallanus carangis Olsen, 1954. Two camallanids, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 3 (subgravid female) and Camallanus carangis (fourth-stage larva) were also found in the digestive tract of the New Caledonian sea krait Laticauda saintgironsi, serving apparently as postcyclic and paratenic hosts, respectively, for these fish nematodes.

Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) keralaensis sp. nov. (Rhabdochonidae) and some other nematodes in the Indian mottled eel Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis from India

A new species of parasitic nematode, Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) keralaensis sp. nov., is described based on specimens recovered from the intestine of Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis (Gray) collected from the freshwater bodies of Kerala State, southern India. It is characterized mainly by the presence of ten anterior prostomal teeth, absence of basal teeth, simple deirids, length of spicules, number and arrangement of preanal papillae and non-filamented eggs. Two species of camallanid nematodes, adults of Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927 and a single Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. fourth-stage larva, were also recorded from A. bengalensis. Camallanus cotti, a pathogenic parasite of many species of wild and aquarium-reared fishes in many countries of South and East Asia, Europe, South and North America, West Indies and Australia, is reported for the first time from a representative of the fish family Anguillidae. Descriptions of R. (R.) keralaensis and Indian specimens of C. cotti, based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations, are provided. Camallanus oxygasterae Gupta et Bakshi, 1983 is considered a junior synonym of C. cotti.

New data on the morphology of Procamallanus (Procamallanus) annulatus and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) monotaxis (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from marine fishes off New Caledonia

Two little-known nematode species of the family Camallanidae, intestinal parasites of marine perciform fishes, are reported from off New Caledonia: Procamallanus (Procamallanus) annulatus Yamaguti, 1955 from the goldenlined spinefoot Siganus lineatus (Valenciennes) (Siganidae) and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) monotaxis (Olsen, 1952) from the longspine emperor Lethrinus genivittatus Valenciennes and the slender emperor Lethrinus variegatus Valenciennes (both Lethrinidae). Detailed light and electron microscopical studies (the latter used for the first time in these species) revealed some taxonomically important, previously not observed features, such as the presence of deirids, six crescent-shaped elevations surrounding the mouth, three poorly developed protuberances on the female tail tip and circumcloacal papillae and phasmids on the male tail in P. annulatus, and the presence of a circumoral flange, only 12 (instead of 14 reported) cephalic papillae, the shape of deirids and similar numbers (14–17 and 14–15) of spiral ridges in the male and female buccal capsules in P. monotaxis. The fourth-stage larva of P. annulatus is described for the first time. Firststage larvae of both species were found to possess several digital processes at the tail tip. The present findings represent new host and geographical records of these parasite species.

Description of a new species, Anopheles pseudosundaicus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Kerala, India

Specimens of Anopheles pseudosundaicus, new species, belonging to the Pyretophorus Series of Anopheles (Cellia), were collected from the coastal areas of Alleppey and Kollam districts in Krerala, southwest India. Female (holotype), male (allotype), pupa and fourth-stage larva of this species are described and illustrated to distinguish it from An. subpictus Grassi and An. sundaicus. (Rodenwaldt). It differs from An. sundaicus by the absence of speckling on legs and from An. subpictus in having a complete prehumeral dark spot on costa in wings. A partial sequence of Cytochrome oxidase C subunit 1 (CO1) of mt DNA places An. pseudosundaicus phylogenetically distant from An. sundaicus and closer to An. subpictus.

Morphological description of the pupa and redescription of the adults and larva of Culex (Culex) apicinus Philippi (Diptera: Culicidae)

The adult, fourth-stage larvae and the male genitalia of Culex (Culex) apicinus Philippi is redescribed. The pupa is described for the first time. The male genitalia, pupa and fourth-stage larva are illustrated. The available information on the taxonomy and distribution of the species is also included, extending the species distribution in Argentina. Bionomics and distributional data are provided for Culex apicinus.

Description of the fourth-stage larva and pupa of Stegomyia edwardsi Barraud (Diptera: Culicidae)

The fourth-stage larva and pupa of Stegomyia edwardsi (Barraud) are described and illustrated for the first time.