Paramphistomes (Digenea; Paramphistomidae) Parasitic in Marine Turtles (Reptilia: Chelonia).

Abstract

Schizamphistomum scleroporum (Creplin, 1844) Groschaft, Otero & Tenora, 1977 nec Looss, 1912, and S. erratum, sp. nov. [=S. scleroporum sensu Looss, 1912 (nec Creplin, 1844)], are described from the green turtle, Chelonia mydas (L.), from Australia. One specimen of the former species was also recovered from an Australian specimen of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (L.). Paramphistomum papillostomum MacCallum, 1916 and Schizamphistomoides chelonei Gupta, 1961, are regarded as synonyms of Schizamphistomum scleroporum (Creplin). S. taiwanense Fischthal & Kunz, 1975 is regarded as a species inquirenda. The remaining species known from sea turtles, Schizamphistomoides spinulosum (Looss, 1901) Stunkard, 1925, is redescribed, mostly from original material collected by Looss. This species has not yet been found in the Australian region. The relationships between Schizamphistomum scleroporum, S. erratum and Schizamphntomoides spinulosum are discussed.