The Open Parasitology Journal
2007, 1 : 7-10Published online 2007 December 27. DOI: 10.2174/1874421400701010007
Publisher ID: TOPARAJ-1-7
RESEARCH ARTICLE
New Family, New Genus, New Species of Acanthocephala (Echinorhynchida) from the Lizard, (Sauria: Scincidae), from Papua New Guinea
1
Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146, USA
2 Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608, USA
3 Bishop Museum, Department of Natural Sciences, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817, USA
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146, USA; E-mail: cxb13@psu.edu
2 Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608, USA
3 Bishop Museum, Department of Natural Sciences, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817, USA
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146, USA; E-mail: cxb13@psu.edu
ABSTRACT
Sauracanthorhynchus sphenomorphicola n. gen., n. sp. from the intestines of the skink Sphenomorphus granulatus (Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Sauracanthorhynchus sphenomorphicola is characterized by a subterminal, spheroid proboscis supporting 25 hooks arranged in 10 alternating longitudinal rows of 2 and 3; apical hooks slightly shorter than medial and posterior hooks. The trunk is commaform with an anterior expansion; 2 contiguous ovoid testes are located in the anterior third of the trunk. Sauracanthorhynchus sphenomorphicola is sufficiently different from other species assigned to the Echinorhynchida that a new family, Sauracanthorhynchidae is erected for it.