Falcaustra puylaerti, Jackson, 2000

Jackson, J. A., 2000, Two new Falcaustra Lane, 1915 species (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) from African pipids (Anura), Journal of Natural History 34 (5), pp. 663-677 : 671-672

Falcaustra puylaerti n. sp.

(®gures 17±29)

Type-host and locality Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis (Gray) at Bo, Sierra Leone.

Other host and locality records

From X. tropicalis: Kasewe hills forest reserve, Sierra Leone (1); Ebeva, Togo (2); Lagos area (exact locality unknown), Nigeria (3). From undescribed, polyploid X. tropicalis -like species (chromosome number: 2 n = 40): Lagos area (exact locality unknown), Nigeria (4).

Site Lower intestine and rectum.

Material studied

Holotype NHM 1998.12.21.1 3 (male), paratype NHM 1998.12.21.1 5 (male) and two non-type male specimens from type-locality, P, hosts coll. Prof. R. C. Tinsley, April, 1979; allotype NHM 1998.12.21.1 4 (female) (1), P, host coll. Prof. R. C. Tinsley, April, 1979; one specimen (2), P, host from RUCA 1371 ; 15 specimens (including NHM 1998.12.21.16 ±19 and MRAC 37.430 ) (3), F, hosts imported commercially, March, 1986; one specimen (4), F, host imported commercially, March, 1986.

Description

General. With characters of F. hinkeli , except where otherwise stated. Mediumsized worms. Posteriorly directed projections of cheilostomal ring in sectors between labia relatively poorly developed. Oesophagus relatively short in proportion to body size, with short, globular pharyngeal region.

Male. Holotype measurements and counts given in text; for data on intraspeci®c variation see table 1.

Body length 5330, width 170. Oesophageal pharynx 43 long, corpus 570 long, isthmus 128 long by 60 wide, bulb 111 long by 109 wide. Nerve ring, deirids and excretory pore, respectively, 270, 570 and 710 from anterior. Caudal region with 20 (left) and ca 23 (right) precloacal muscle blocks. Spicules short, 151 long. Basal portion of gubernaculum 42 long. Tail 350 long.

Female. Allotype measurements given in text; for data on intraspeci®c variation see table 1.

Body length 5700, width 260. Oesophageal pharynx 44 long, corpus 730 long, isthmus 120 long by 70 wide, bulb 126 long by 117 wide. Nerve ring, deirids and excretory pore, respectively, 280, 560 and 760 from anterior. Vulva 66% of total body length from anterior. Tail 360 long. Distal egg in uterus 104 long by 41 wide (allotype showing two eggs in one uterus).

Remarks

Falcaustra puylaerti n. sp. is distinguished from F. hinkeli by much shorter male spicule length, a shorter oesophagus in proportion to body length (with a shorter and more globular pharyngea l region) and less-developed posteriorly directed projections of the cheilostomal ring. It diOEers from other representatives of Falcaustra in

the same ways as described for F. hinkeli (see above), although its short male spicule length further distinguishes it from the African species F. verbekei .

Etymology

This species is named for Dr F. A. Puylaert in recognition of his contributions to the study of nematodes.