SPLENDIDOFILARIA PECTORALIS N. SP. (FILARIOIDEA: ONCHOCERCIDAE) FROM TETRAONID BIRDS IN NORTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract

Descriptions are presented for the adults and fourth-stage larvae of Splendidofilaria pectoralis n. sp. from the pectoral subcutaneous tissues of blue grouse, Dendragapus obscurus pallidus Swarth, in British Columbia, Canada, and for its microfilaria. It is concluded tentatively that in British Columbia this species is absent from the coastal region and is restricted to Galliformes (probably to the Tetraonidae). The new species is reported from the following additional hosts in British Columbia: Franklin's grouse, Canachites canadensis franklinii; ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus affinis; sharp-tailed grouse, Pedioecetes phasianellus Columbianus; and from two hosts in Alaska: spruce grouse, C. c. atratus, and sharp-tailed grouse, P. p. caurus. Observations on prevalence, epizootiology, and pathology of S. pectoralis n, sp. are discussed. The most similar of the other species of Splendidofilaria inhabiting subcutaneous sites is S. papillocerca (Lubimov, 1946) from which S. pectoralis u, sp. differs most noticeably as follows: vagina about half as long, spicules longer, tail of female much longer.