Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus), 1952

Moravec, František & Justine, Jean-Lou, 2019, New species and new records of camallanid nematodes (Nematoda, Camallanidae) from marine fishes and sea snakes in New Caledonia, Parasite (Paris, France) 26 (66), pp. 1-25 : 19-20

Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 2

Figure 13

Host: Zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum (Hermann) ( Stegostomatidae , Orectolobiformes ).

Site of infection: Stomach.

Locality : Near Récif Aboré, off Nouméa, New Caledonia, 22° 24 0 060 S, 166°18 0 961 E (collected 3 May 2005) .

Prevalence, intensity and detail about fish: 1 fish infected/1 fish examined; 1 nematode; the shark was 2080 mm in length. Photograph of fish available from: https://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/File: Stegostoma_fasciatum _ JNC 1529_Body.JPG

Deposition of voucher specimen: Muséum National

d’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris ( MNHN JNC 1529).

Description

Female (one ovigerous specimen): Length of body 16.17 mm, maximum width 313. Buccal capsule including basal ring 93 long, its width 69; basal ring 9 long and 48 wide. Maximum width/length ratio of buccal capsule 1:1.35. Spiral ridges 12, of which 3 incomplete ( Fig. 13B ). Length of muscular oesophagus 490, maximum width 105; length of glandular oesophagus 843, maximum width 138 ( Fig. 13A ); length ratio of muscular and glandular oesophagus 1:1.18. Length of entire oesophagus and buccal capsule representing 12% of body length. Nerve ring 313 from anterior extremity. Deirids not located. Excretory pore at short distance posterior to posterior end of muscular oesophagus, at 734 from anterior end of body ( Fig. 13A ). Vulva postequatorial, 8.34 mm from anterior extremity, at 52% of body length. Vulval lips not elevated. Vagina directed posteriorly from vulva. Uterus filled with small amount of eggs. Tail broad, rounded, its posterior end abruptly narrowed to form digital protrusion provided with 1 small terminal cuticular knob; length of entire tail 163; digital protrusion 39 long, 15 wide ( Figs. 13C and 13D ).

Remarks

Due to availability of a single subgravid female, the species identification based on morphology is impossible. This species is characterized by the broadly rounded tail with a short projection without terminal cuticular spines. In this case, the shark apparently served as a postcyclic host, which had acquired the infection by feeding on the true definitive hosts (fish) of this nematode.

Figures

Figure 13. Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 2 from Stegostoma fasciatum, subgravid female. (A) Anterior end, lateral view; (B) buccal capsule, lateral view; (C) tail, lateral view; (D) tail tip, lateral view.