Nematodes From 9 Species of Varanus (Reptilia) From Tropical Northern Australia, With Particular Reference to the Genus Abbreviata (Physalopteridae)

Abstract

The nematodes Abbreviata antarctica, A. confusa, A. hastaspicula, A. levicauda, A. glebopalmae sp. nov., A. kimberleyensis sp. nov. and Tanqua tiara were collected from nine species of Varanus monitor lizards in tropical northern Australia. A. glebopalmae sp, nov. is characterised by dorso-ventral enlargement of the pseudolabia, hypertrophy of the anterior end of the oesophagus and an anteriorly situated vulva. A. kimberleyensis sp. nov. differs from A. perenticola (which is allopatric) by having denticles at the dorsal and ventral corner of each pseudolabium, and a row of 6-8 fine even denticles on the subdorsal and subventral medial surface of each pseudolabium. Species of Abbreviata were recovered from between one and six host species, and each species of Varanus harboured between one and four species of Abbreviata. In each host species usually one (or in some cases two) nematode species were dominant. Ecological factors rather than susceptibility to infection appeared to be the major determinants of the composition of this nematode fauna. Physalopteroides filicauda, Maxvachonia brygooi, M. chabaudi, and Wanaristrongylus ctenoti were also recovered, probably as accidental infections, and Dioctowittus denisoniae, Hastospiculum gouldi and Oswaldofilaria sp. were recovered from serous cavities. Hastospiculum drysdaliae is reduced to synonomy with H. gouldi.