Gyrinicola batrachiensis (Walton, 1929) n.comb. (Oxyuroidea; Nematoda) from tadpoles in eastern and central Canada

Abstract

Gyrinicola batrachiensis (Walton, 1929) n.comb. (=Pharyngodon batrachiensis Walton, 1929) was found in seven species of anurans belonging to the Ranidae, Hylidae, and Bufonidae in New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario, Canada. Transformed anurans were not infected. The species is redescribed from material collected near Guelph, Ontario. Pharyngodon armatus Walton, 1933 is considered a synonym of G. batrachiensis. Gyrinicola Yamaguti, 1938 is redefined and transferred to the Oxyuroidea from the Cosmocercoidea. The genus is distinguished by the presence of two egg types in females. Thick-shelled eggs with embryos in an early stage of cleavage were present in one horn of the reproductive tract, whereas thin-shelled larvated eggs were present in the other horn. Three species of Gyrinicola are recognized, namely, G. batrachiensis in North America, G. tba (Dinnik, 1930) n.comb. in Europe, and G. japonica Yamaguti, 1938 in Japan.