title: Acanthocephala in amphibians (Anura) and reptiles (Squamata) from Brazil and Paraguay with description of a new species.
abstract: In a survey of 1,732 amphibians and reptiles collected across São Paulo Province, Brazil, and 7 provinces in Paraguay, 26 species were found infected with acanthocephalans. Of 1,510 anurans, 14 anurans, representing 11 species, were infected with cystacanths of Centrorhynchus spp. and 1 anuran with cystacanths of Oligacanthorhynchus sp. Of 107 lizards, 1 lizard was infected with cystacanths of Centrorhynchus sp. and 1 lizard with cystacanths of Oligacanthorhynchus sp. Acanthocephalus caspanensis was found in 3 anurans (3 species) and Acanthocephalus lutzi in 3 anurans (2 species) and 2 snakes (2 species). The systematic position of A. lutzi cannot be resolved using presently available morphological data. Acanthocephalus saopaulensis n. sp. was found in a single individual of Bufo ictericus. The new species can be differentiated from all its congeners except A. caspanensis in having a sigmoid-shaped male posterior end and from A. caspanensis in having a proboscis armature of 16 rows of 5-7 hooks rather than 18-19 rows of 6-7 hooks and larger eggs. The status of Acanthocephalus and Pseudoacanthocephalus continues to be problematic.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland 4702, Australia. I.warner@cqu.edu.au
authors.forename: Lesley R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Smales
mesh_terms: D000049:Acanthocephala / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000469:parasitology*; D001938:Brazil; D017812:Colubridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D010239:Paraguay