New species of Oochoristica (Cestoda; Linstowiidae) and other endoparasites of Trachylepis atlantica (Sauria: Scincidae) from Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil

Abstract

Oochoristica noronhae n. sp. from the small intestines of Trachylepis atlantica Schmidt (Sauria: Scincidae) from Fernando de Noronha, Brazil is described and illustrated. Prevalence of infection was 81%, mean intensity 30. ± 1.8, range (1–7). Oochoristica noronhae n. sp. represents the 88th species assigned to the genus and the 14th species from the Neotropical region. Of the 14 Neotropical species, O. noronhae n. sp. is most similar to O. parvula and O. vanzolinii in that these three species have circular suckers and fewer than 30 testes per proglottid. These three species can be separated on the basis of number of lobules per ovarian lobe; in O. vanzolinii the ovarian lobe is entire, O. parvula has 3–5 lobules/lobe, O. noronhae has 8–10 lobules/lobe. In addition to O. noronhae n. sp., two species of Nematoda, Moaciria alvarengai Freitas and Spinicauda spinicauda (Heterakidae), one species of Pentastomida, Raillietiella freitasi (Cephalobaenidae) and an undetermined species of Acanthocephala, as a cystacanth, were found.