Revision of Hedruris Nitzsch (Nematoda: Habronematoidea) from aquatic vertebrates of North America

Abstract

The five currently recognized Hedruris spp. from North America were compared based on museum and other specimens. Only the following two species were shown to be valid: H. pendula (Leidy, 1851) Chandler, 1919 and H. siredonis Baird, 1858. Hedruris tiara Van Cleave &Mueller, 1932 is shown to be synonymous with H. pendula, whereas H. brevis Walton, 1930 and H. chandleri Freitas &Lent, 1941 are synonymous with H. siredonis. Hedruris pendula is apparently mainly parasitic in freshwater turtles of eastern North America, although it may infrequently occur in fish and frogs. Hedruris siredonis has been reported only in salamanders (Ambystomatidae, Salamandridae, Plethodontidae), apparently throughout North America. This species varies considerably in the size of mature adult worms.