Subulura mackoi n. sp. (Nematoda: Subuluridae) and the zoogeography of subulurids parasitizing birds

Abstract

A new nematode species, Subulura mackoi n. sp., is described based on specimens from the colon and caecum of the Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops (L.) (Aves: Strigiformes) from the Czech Republic, collected in 2011. Males are characterized by 10 pairs of caudal papillae, a single papilla on the upper lip of the cloaca, and small unequal spiculae; female distinguishing features are body length, distance of the vulva from the anterior extremity, tail length, and egg dimension.Analysis of the zoogeographical distribution and host specialization (in the bird orders) of 68 valid species from the genus Subulura Molin, 1860 shows significantly high species diversity in the tropical zones. Only one species, S. brumpti, is a cosmopolitan parasite of Gallus gallus f. domestica and other domesticated gallinaceous birds. Zoogeographical-host interactions may be utilized to support the identification of morphospecies of the genus Subulura.

Morphological and Genetic Characterization of the Poorly Known Species Subulura chinensis Schwartz, 1926 (Nematoda: Ascaridida) from Athene noctua (Scopoli) (Strigiformes: Strigidae)

“…In Subulura, the 11 other species have been reported from strigiform hosts, namely S. mackoi Baruš [1,4,12,[17][18][19]. With distinctly unequal spicules, S. mackoi, S. reclinata, S. acutissima, S. lutzi, S. longispicula and S. glaucidii can be easily distinguished from S. chinensis.…”

“…Only S. lacertilia Vicente, Sluys, Fontes and Kiefer, 2000 is parasitic in lizards [6]. According to a previous study [4], over 60 valid species in Subulura have been reported worldwide. Among these, eight species have been recorded from China, namely S. halli Barreto, 1918, S. taiwanensis Yamaguti, 1936, S. citelli Sulimov, 1961, S. chinensis Schwartz, 1926, S. brumpti (Lopez-Neyra, 1922), S. suctoria (Molin, 1860), S. longispicula Wang, 1980 and S. tanjinensis Ming and Zhang, 2010 [3,5,[7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

“…Species of Subulura Molin, 1860 (Ascaridida: Subuluroidea) commonly occur in birds and mammals [1][2][3][4][5]. Only S. lacertilia Vicente, Sluys, Fontes and Kiefer, 2000 is parasitic in lizards [6].…”

Subulura eliseaesp. n. (Ascaridida: Subuluroidea), a parasite ofMarmosaspp. from Amazon rainforest, Brazil

“…This family is characterized by the structure of the buccal end in which the lobes of the oesophagus extend anteriorly to form a pharyngeal portion located between the true oral capsule and the oesophagus (Smales et al , 2021). Recent work has adopted scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as a complementary tool for the identification and redescription of species belonging to the superfamily Subuluroidea, contributing to a refined description of the species (Smales, 2009; Baruš et al , 2013; Du et al , 2014; Guo et al , 2019; Smales et al , 2021).…”

“…Species of the genus Subulura Molin, 1860 (Ascaridida: Subuluroidea) occur in birds, lizards and mammals, with more than 60 valid Subulura species reported worldwide (Vicente et al , 2000; Baruš et al , 2013). To date, four Subulura species have been reported parasitizing marsupials from South America: Subulura interrogans Lent & Freitas, 1935, S. Subulura Foster, 1939, Subulura trinitatis Wolfgang, 1951 and S. amazonica Pereira & Machado Filho, 1968, with only one Australian species, Subulura peramelis Baylis, 1930, reported.…”