Redescription of Rugopharynx australis (Mönnig, 1926) and the description of R. moennigi n. sp. (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) from kangaroos (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in Australia.

Abstract

Rugopharynx australis (Mönnig, 1926) (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) is redescribed based on specimens from the type host, Osphranter rufus (Desmarest), together with matching DNA sequence data. Additional hosts were Macropus giganteus Shaw and Osphranter robustus (Gould) with single occurrences in M. fuliginosus (Desmarest), Notamacropus dorsalis (Gray), Lagorchestes conspicillatus Gould and Petrogale xanthopus Gray. Rugopharynx moennigi n. sp., formerly included within R. australis, is distinguished by shorter but overlapping spicule lengths and in the morphology of the gubernaculum as well as by molecular data. Rugopharynx moennigi n. sp. appears to be primarily parasitic in M. fuliginosus throughout its geographical range, but also infects M. giganteus, O. robustus and O. rufus in areas of host sympatry.