Two new notocotylid trematodes from birds in Tasmania and their life histories

Abstract

Paramonostomum caeci n. sp., adults of which occur mainly in the intestinal caeca of Anas supereiliosa, Cygnus atratus and Polioeephalus polioeephalus, is described. It is considered to closely resemble P. malerisehi from which it differs in being only one-third the size, having a spinose tegument and a cirrus covered with tubercles. P. bursae n.sp., adults of which have been found inhabiting the bursa of Fabricius of Anas supereiliosa is described and considered to be most similar to P. alveatum and P. parvum but to differ from them in the distribution of its vitellaria, the position of its ovary relative to the testes and in having a greater number of uterine loops. The domestic duck, Anas platyrhynehos, was found to serve as an experimental host for both new species. A brackish water snail, Coxiella badgerensis, inhabiting Calverts Lagoon in southeast Tasmania serves as a natural intermediate host for P. caeci n.sp. and P. bursae n.sp. and also for two other undescribed notocotylids. Developmental stages (rediae, cercariae and metacercariae) of both new Paramonostomum species are described. The cercaria of P. caeci n. sp. belongs to the Imbricata group, and that of P. bursae n.sp. to the Yenchingensis group.