Some Platyhelminth Parasites of Sirens (Amphibia: Sirenidae) from North America

Abstract

A new genus and species of digenean and a new species of cestode are described and a previously described species of digenean reported for the first time from Siren intermedia from Illinois. A new genus is proposed for a previously described digenean, and another known species of digenean reported from Siren lacertina in Florida. Progorgodera foliata from S. intermedia has a foliate hindbody characteristic of members of Phyllodistomum and multiple testes arranged in 2 longitudinal rows characteristic of members of Gorgodera. Ophiotaenia sireni from the same host resembles 0. filaroides in number of testes, 0. amphiumae and 0. alternans in number of uterine branches, and 0. grandis and 0. marenzelleri in scolex size. Allassostomoides louisianaensis is reported for the first time from Siren intermedia. The new genus Cephalogonimoides is proposed for Cephalogonimus sireni from Siren lacertina, which differs from members of Cephalogonimus by having symmetrical testes, ceca extending to the posterior end of the body, an acetabulum twice as large as the oral sucker, and a muscular prepharynx; and by lacking a seminal receptacle. Telorchis stunkardi is reported from S. lacertina for the first time. The amphibian genus Siren L. is represented in North America by two species, Siren lacertina L. and S. intermedia LeConte. Five species of adult platyhelminths have been reported from S. lacertina: Cercorchis (= Telorchis) sireni Zeliff 1937, Stomatrema guberleti Byrd 1937, Gorgodera minima Cort 1911, Cephalogonimus sireni Premvati 1969, and Ophiotaenia sp. (Zeliff, 1937; Walton, 1958; Premvati, 1969; Loftin, 1960). Manter (1938) reported Cephalogonimus amphiumae Chandler 1923 from Siren sp. To date, no adult platyhelminths have been reported from Siren intermedia. From 1970 to 1975 adult platyhelminths were collected from Siren intermedia captured in southern Illinois. All specimens were fixed with AFA. Cestodes were first relaxed in cold tap water; digeneans were flattened with slight coverslip pressure. Worms were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin and mounted in Canada balsam. Measurements are in micrometers unless otherwise stated; figures were drawn with the aid of a drawing tube.