Rhabdias lacertae Moravec, 2010

KUZMIN, YURIY, 2013, Review of Rhabdiasidae (Nematoda) from the Holarctic, Zootaxa 3639 (1), pp. 1-76 : 55-56

Rhabdias lacertae Moravec, 2010

Host: Zootoca (= Lacerta ) vivipara ( Reptilia: Sauria : Lacertidae ).

Site: body cavity.

Locality: Western Palaearctic ( Slovakia).

Description (after Moravec 2010; 2 specimens). Small nematodes with smooth cuticle. Anterior end truncated; posterior end conical. Length of body 1.22 (1.34) mm; maximum width at middle of body 66 (81). Cephalic papillae or lip-like structures indistinct in lateral view. Buccal capsule small, 3 (3) long, 4.5 (4.5) wide, with sclerotised wall. Oesophagus muscular, 222 (240) long, representing 18 (18)% of body length, somewhat expanded at anterior and posterior ends; maximum width of oesophagus near posterior end 27 (27). Nerve-ring and excretory pore 96 (75) and 153 (168), respectively, from anterior extremity. Oesophagus opens into intestine through distinct valve. Intestine straight, fairly wide. Rectum short, cuticulised. Vulva situated near middle of body, 645 (606) from anterior end, at 53 and (45) % of body length; vulva lips not elevated. Vagina reduced. Uteri amphidelphic, tubular, contain 2 (2) oval, thin-walled eggs. Eggs 60–63 (60) long, 27–33 (33) wide; contents of eggs at morula stage. Ovaries (syngonia) narrow, short, reflected. Tail conical, 105 (129) long, representing 8.6 (9.6)% of body length, terminating in 3 min cuticular spikes of ca. 3 (3) long.

Remarks. Despite the detailed original description of the species and its morphological similarities to Rhabdias species parasitizing snakes, we suppose that its status as separate species and its affinities to Rhabdias , as well as its specificity to lizard host, should be verified by additional studies.

Reference: Moravec (2010).