Thubunaea acostai sp. nov. (NEMATODA: PHYSALOPTERIDAE) FROM THE LIZARD Liolaemus gracielae (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA: LIOLAEMIDAE) IN ARGENTINA

CASTILLO, GABRIEL NATALIO; CYNTHIA JESICA GONZALEZ RIVAS

San Juan

Congreso; XLI Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2024

Nematodes are common parasitic life forms whose hosts encompass various types of vertebrates. Among nematodes, the genus Thubunaea mainly parasitizes reptiles. Currently 19 species are assigned to Thubunaea. In the Neotropical region two species have been mentioned, with only one species described in Argentina. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new species of Thubunaea, third species of the genus to be described from the Neotropical region and the second described for Argentina. Thubunaea acostai sp. nov. is described and illustrated here, based on specimens found 10 8 in the digestive tract of Liolaemus gracielae in the province of San Juan, Argentina. The new species differs from all other species assigned to Thubunaea by the number of caudal papillae. Thubunaea acostai has 30-31 papillae (12 pedunculated and 18-19 sessile), differing from other Neotropical species such as Thubunaea eleodori with 26 papillae (12 pedunculated and 14 sessile) and Thubunaea parkeri with 20 papillae, all pedunculated.