Parasites of the relict fauna of Ceylon. VIII. Helminths from Ichthyophis spp. (Amphibia: Gymnophiona).

Trematodes and nematodes are recorded for the first time, and described, from the endemic caecilians Ichthyophis glutinosus (L) and I. orthoplicatus Taylor, 1965 of Sri Lanka. The trematodes are of the species Gorgoderina carli Baer, 1930, from the urinary bladder, and Mesocoelium monas (Rudolphi, 1819) from the small intestine. The nematodes are referred to the species Rhabdias escheri Baer, 1930, from the body cavity and lungs, a new host-record; Pelodera chabaudi sp. nov., from the stomach, small intestine and rectum; and Meteterakis sinharajensis Crusz and Ching, 1976, from the rectum, also a new host-record. Pelodera chabaudi is recognised as a new species on the basis of the arrangment of the bursal papillae, the very prominent pair of fleshy papillae on the cloacal elevation, and the markedly anteriad position of the free proximal ends of the distally fused spicules.

Parasites of the relict fauna of Ceylon. VI. More new helminths from amphibians and reptiles, a new host-record and redescription of Acanthocephalus serendibensis Crusz and Mills 1970.

A monogenetic trematode Polystoma hakgalense sp. nov. is described from the urinary bladder of the frog Rhacophorus cruciger eques, from the Hakgala Strict Natural Reserve (1 707 m). The following combination of characters distinguishes it fromm all other species of the genus: the random and reticulate anastomoses of the gut, the entire nature of the base of the opisthaptoral hooks, and the lack of vitellaria in the spaces between the opisthaptoral suckers. Acanthocephalus serendibensis is redescribed after a study of the original type specimens, and of fresh specimens from the horn-nosed lizard Ceratophora stoddarti from the Hakagala S.N.R. and from the gecko Cnemaspis kandianus kandianus from Haputale (1 418 m). The gecko is a new host record for A. serendibensis. The original description has been modified as regards the proboscis, which carries 10-12 longitudinal rows of hooks with 3-4 hooks in each row, the embryo within the egg, which bears minute spines over its body-surface and a row of hooks at one end, and the bursa of the male, which lacks bursal rays.

Parasites of the relict fauna of Ceylon. V. New species of nematodes from uropeltid snakes.

Two new species of nematodes have been found in endemic snakes of the family Uropeltidae which is restricted to montane regions in India and Sri Lanka. A trichostrongylid, Oswaldocruzia gansi sp. nov., is described from the small intestine of Rhinophis drummondhayi from Watawala (1 075 m) and the Namunukula area (1 200-1 300 m), R. philippinus from Pallatenne (618 m), and Uropeltis melanogaster from Kandy (800 + m). It is distinguished from other species of the genus chiefly by the trifurcate nature of the distal end of its dorsal ray and the number of terminal processes of each spicule. A cosmocercid, Aplectana uropeltidarum sp. nov., is described from the rectum of the same hosts as well as of Uropeltis phillipsi from Gammaduwa (720 m), and Rhinophis blythi from Talawakele (1 016 m). It was also found in the rectum of Teretrurus sanguineus from the Nalumukku Estate, Mandjolai (1 524 m) in S. India. It differs from all other species of the genus, especially in the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae of the male.