Species of Typhlophoros von Linstow, 1906 (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in Old World crocodilians.

A new species of the genus Typhlophoros von Linstow, 1906, T. spratti, is described from the freshwater crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni and the saltwater crocodile C. porosus in northern Australia. Specimens of the new species could not be compared with the type-species, T. lamellaris, as no preserved specimens of the latter species are known to exist. The new species differs from the descriptions of von Linstow (1906) and Maplestone (1930) in the number of interlabial ridges, the form of the ventriculus and absence of lateral alae. The taxonomic status and affinities of Typhlophoros are discussed.

Ascaridoid nematodes of amphibians and reptiles: Raillietascaris n. g.

Ascaridoid species occurring in lizards and previously included in Amplicaecum are relegated to a new genus whose morphological features are defined. In spite of some diversity in relative length of spicules among the specimens examined, this was not correlated with host, location, or with existing species names. Accordingly, one species (R. varani) is recognized, other species names (iguanae, monitor, and mackerrasae) are regarded as synonyms.

Ascaridoid nematodes of South American mammals, with a definition of a new genus.

Ascaridoid nematodes occurring in South American mammals are divided into categories based on their possible origin. The affinities are discussed of five species so far known only from the Neotropical Region. Toxocara alienata (Rudolphi 1819) is reported from Nasua rufa socialis, Procyon cancrivorus, and Tayassus torquatus. The specimens from T. torquatus are described and found most closely to resemble Toxocara mackerrasae from south-east Asian and Austrialian rodents. Anisakis insignis from Inia geoffrensis is transferred back to Peritrachelius Diesing, 1851, on account of the structure of the lips and spicules. P. insignis is shown to exhibit remarkable convergence of lip structure with Lagochilascaris turgida from Didelphis marsupialis. Galeiceps longispiculum (Freitas & Lent, 1941) from Pteronura brasiliensis is confirmed as a species distinct from G. cucullus (Linstow, 1899) and G. spinicollis (Baylis, 1923), but G. simiae (Mosgovoy, 1951) is considered to be a synonym of G. spinicollis. An error in the host record of G. spinicollis is corrected from Cercopithecus leucampyx kandti to Lutra maculicollis kivuana. Ascaris dasypodina Baylis, 1922 from armadillos, including Cabassous unicinctus and Tolypeutes matacos, is redescribed and placed in a new genus Bairdascaris. The question is raised as to whether some species in Lagochilascaris, Galeiceps, and Toxocara may have crossed directly by sea from Africa to South America, rather than entering via North America.

Ascaridoid nematodes of amphibians and reptiles: Multicaecum and Brevimulticaecum.

The genus Multicaecum Baylis 1923, sensu Hartwich 1957, was found to be heterogeneous, comprising species which are released to two distinct genera, namely Multicaecum Bavlis, 1923 and Brevimulticaecum. The latter name is derived from the subgenus Brevinulticaecum Mozgovoy, in Skrjabin, Shikhobalova, and Mozgovoy, 1951 by raising it to generic rank and emending the definition. Multicaecum contains a single species, agile Wedl, 1861 occurring in Crocodylus spp. in Africa, India and Australia, and is characterized by smooth rounded lips, each with a dentigerous ridge comprising small sharp denticles. The excretory pore is level with the nerve ring or behind it, and the ventricular appendices are long and slender. The species gangeticum Maplestone 1930 and quadrata Linstow 1904 are excluded from Multicaecum and regarded as species inquirendae incertae sedis. Brevimulticaecum contains five species occurring in the caimans and the alligator of the New World: baylisi Travassors, 1933 (type species; acuticauda Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1937 is placed in synonomy under baylisi); stekhoveni Baylis, 1947; tenuicolle Rudolphi, 1819; and two new species. Brevimulticaecum spp. are characterized by flat lips with alate margins and notches, without dentigerous ridges, excretory pore in front of or at nerve ring and the ventriculus with short appendices. The significance of this proposal is discussed in relation to the other genera of ascaridoid nematodes in crocodilians.

Ascaridoid nematodes of amphibians and reptiles: Gedoelstascaris n.g. and Ortleppascaris n.g.

Two new genera, Gedoelstascaris and Orleppascaris, are proposed for species of ascaridoid nematodes occurring in crocodilians and previously included in Dujardinascaris. Species included in Gedoelstascaris are vandenbrandeni Baylis, 1929 as type species and australiensis Baylis, 1931 (= salomonis Kreis, 1940). These species occur in Crocodylus spp. in Africa and Australia respectively and are characterised by lips with a rostral plate, without interlocking processes or dentigerous ridges, with well-developed interlabia, lobulated ventriculus, and excetory pore in front of the nerve ring. Species included in Ortleppascaris are: nigra Gedoelst, 1916 (= tasmani Ortlepp, 1932) as type species; alata Baylis, 1947: antipini Mozgovoy, 1950. These species occur in Crocodylus, Caiman and Alligator and are characterized by flat lips with alate margins, without anterior rostral plate, interlocking processes or dentigerous ridges, with weakly developed interlabia, by an irregular-shaped ventriculus, excretory pore behind or between the subventral lips, and by the presence of lateral alae or cuticular thickenings in the oesophageal region. The significance of this proposal is discussed in relation to the radiation and dispersal of ascaridoids of crocodilians.

Toxocariasis.

Human infection with the larvae of the dog roundworm, Toxocara canis, occurs in Australia, especially in children, and though usually not serious, it can cause considerable damage if the larvae get into such organs as the eye.