Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 3

Figure 14

Host: New Caledonian sea krait Laticauda saintgironsi Cogger et Heatwole ( Elapidae, Serpentes).

Site of infection: Collected from regurgitated digestive content of snake.

Locality: Île Amédée, off Nouméa, New Caledonia (collected 14 February 2011) .

Prevalence and intensity: 1 snake infected/90 examined; 1 nematode.

Deposition of voucher specimen: Muséum National d’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris, MNHN JNB 011.

Description

Female (one ovigerous specimen): Length of body 23.11 mm, maximum width 462. Buccal capsule including basal ring 114 long, its width 90; basal ring 12 long and 66 wide. Maximum width/length ratio of buccal capsule 1:1.27. Spiral ridges 13, of which 5 incomplete (Fig. 14C). Length of muscular oesophagus 598, maximum width 105; length of glandular oesophagus 1020, maximum width 192 (Fig. 14A); length ratio of muscular and glandular oesophagus 1:1.71. Length of entire oesophagus and buccal capsule representing 7% of body length. Nerve ring 367 from anterior extremity. Deirids small, situated 243 from anterior extremity, approximately at mid-way between base of buccal capsule and nerve ring (Fig. 14B). Excretory pore located short distance posterior to posterior end of muscular oesophagus, at 816 from anterior end of body (Fig. 14A). Vulva postequatorial, 11.90 mm from anterior extremity, at 52% of body length. Vulval lips not elevated. Vagina directed posteriorly from vulva. Uterus filled with many eggs. Tail broad, somewhat conical, its posterior end abruptly narrowed to form digit-like protrusion provided with one small terminal cuticular knob; length of entire tail 122; digit-like protrusion 27 long, 15 wide (Figs. 14D and 14E).

Remarks

The presence of a single subgravid female but no male makes species identification of this nematode impossible. As in the previous case, it is apparent that the actual definitive host is a fish and the sea-snake acts only as a postcyclic host, which acquired the infection by feeding on fish. The nematode was collected from the regurgitated digestive content of a snake induced by manipulation, no identifiable prey fish was recovered.