New species and new locality records of the nematode genus Labiosimplex (Strongylida: Chabertiidae) from macropodid marsupials in Western Australia

Abstract

Labiosimplex mawsonae sp. nov. is described from the stomach of Macropus irma (Jourdan) (type host) from north of Williams, Western Australia. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by a combination of characters including the proportions of the lateral lip, the form of the bursa and dorsal ray, the length of the spicules and the length of the vagina vera. Labiosimplex camporum sp. nov. from the stomach of M. rufus (Desmarest) (type host) and M. robustus Gould from the Karratha region, is distinguished from all congeners by a combination of characters including the shape of the submedian lips and the form and size of the oesophageo-intestinal diverticula and the length of the spicules. Labiosimplex kungi Mawson is reported from Western Australia for the fi rst time and new locality records are reported for L. irma Smales, L. occidentalis Smales, L. longispicularis Smales and L. thomasae Smales. The patterns of occurrence of species of Labiosimplex within species of Macropus suggest both colonization and co speciation may have occurred.