Two Pharyngodonid Nematodes, Alaeuris mexicana n. sp. and Ozolaimus ctenosauri, from the Iguanid Lizard Ctenosaura pectinata from Nayarit, Mexico

Abstract

Two species of nematodes, Alaeuris mexicana n. sp. and Ozolaimus ctenosauri Caballero, 1938, were found in the iguanid lizard Ctenosaura pectinata (Wiegmann) from Aguamilpa, Nayarit, central Mexico (Pacific region). The new species, A. mexicana, differs from all congeners mainly in the length of the spicule (0.228-0.233 mm) and in the shape and size of the tail and caudal alae. Ozolaimus ctenosauri (syn. Ozolaimus prolixa Caballero et Cerecero, 1943) is considered a valid species parasitic in Ctenosaura spp. Scanning electron microscopic studies of both species revealed substantial differences in the structure of the mouth, which were used for the separation of the closely related genera Ozolaimus and Alaeuris.

Endoparasites of Crotalus tzabcan (Serpentes: Viperidae), with a checklist in rattlesnakes

“…Therefore, the most likely way in which free-living rattlesnakes become infected is when they feed on lizards and rodents. Some of the parasites documented in rattlesnakes could be secondarily ingested with the prey item, e.g., Abbreviata terrapenis (Hill, 1941) in wild C. lepidus Kennicott, 1861 (Goldberg et al 2002a), Thubunaea cnemidophorus Babero and Matthias, 1967 in wild C. cerastes, C. pyrrhus and C. scutulatus (Babero and Emmerson 1974), or Ozalaimus ctenosauri Caballero, 1938 in a captive specimen of C. polystictus (Cope, 1865) (see Caballero, 1939;Moravec et al 1996). In the first 2 cases, the definitive hosts are lizards commonly consumed by rattlesnakes in the wild; in the last, the captive C. polystictus probably had been fed an iguana Ctenosaura acanthura (Shaw, 1802), a known definitive host of O. ctenosauri.…”

Morphometrics and molecular analysis ofOzolaimus linstowin. sp. (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) from the green lizardIguana iguana

“…The first SEM images of the anterior extremity were obtained for O. ctenosauri, but, unfortunately, only female specimens were examined and sexual dimorphism in the head-end cuticular structures was not discovered (Moravec et al, 1996). The first SEM images of the anterior extremity were obtained for O. ctenosauri, but, unfortunately, only female specimens were examined and sexual dimorphism in the head-end cuticular structures was not discovered (Moravec et al, 1996).…”

“…Despite the presence of numerous papers on Ozolaimus representatives, some aspects of their morphology (particularly the head-end structures) still remain understudied, and adequate illustrations are lacking. The first SEM images of the anterior extremity were obtained for O. ctenosauri , but, unfortunately, only female specimens were examined and sexual dimorphism in the head-end cuticular structures was not discovered (Moravec et al , 1996).…”

“…Unfortunately no morphological diagnosis was given by the author. At the same time, some authors have attempted to synonymize both genera, arguing that pharynx morphology cannot be considered as an important diagnostic feature because of its strong variability due to fixation (Thapar, 1926;Bravo-Hollis & Brenes, 1960;Inglis et al, 1960 (Moravec et al, 1996). Thus, Chitwood (1931) gave a detailed description of M. monhystera with a uniform pharynx width, and redescribed Ozolaimus megatyphlon (Rudolphi, 1819) from I. tuberculata, and Ortlepp (1933a), based on pharynx morphology, excluded Ozolaimus from the subfamily Oxyurinae Hall, 1916 and proposed the subfamily Ozolaiminae, which was later raised to the rank of family (Pereira, 1935).…”

“…Currently, Ozolaimus ( = Macracis ) is included within the Pharyngodonidae family and comprises four valid species: O. megatyphlon , O. monhystera , O. cirratus and O. ctenosauri ( = O. prolixa ) (Moravec et al , 1996). The new species Ozolaimus linstowi n. sp.…”