Cosmocercoid Nematode parasites from Frogs of Southern Africa

Abstract

A survey of cosmocercoid nematode parasites of frogs in southern Africa revealed the presence of five species: Aplectana degraaffi n. sp. from Breviceps sylvestris of Transvaal, A. capensis n. sp. from Breviceps rosei and B. montanus of the southern Cape, A. macintoshii (Stewart, 1914), A. chamaeleonis (Baylis, 1929), Cosmocerca ornata (Dujardin^ 1845) from various frog species throughout the region. Aplectana degraaffi n. sp. differs from all other congeneric species in the possession of a characteristic projection on the distal part of the spicule shaft. Aplectana capensis n. sp. differs from the closely related species A. macintosh!! in the morphology and distribution of the caudal papillae in males and the shape of the capitulum of the spicules. Aplectana degraaffi and A. capensis are probably restricted in distribution and evolved respectively as vicariants of the pan-African species A. chamaeleonis and A. macintosh!!.