NEMATODES PARASITIC IN FISHES OF CENOTES (EQUALS SINKHOLES) OF THE PENINSULA OF YUCATAN, MEXICO .2. LARVAE

This paper comprises a systematic survey of larval nematodes collected from fishes from cenotes (= sinkholes) of the Peninsula of Yucatan, s outhern Mexico, in 1993-1994. Larvae of the following nine species wer e recorded: Physocephulus sexalatus, Acuariidae gen, sp., Spiroxys sp. , Falcaustra sp., Hysterothylacium cenotae, Contracaecum, sp. Type 1, Contracuecum sp. Type 2, Goezia sp., and Eustrongylides sp. Larvae of P. sexolatus are recorded from fishes (Rhamdia guatemalensis) for the first time. The larvae are briefly described and illustrated and probl ems concerning their morphology, taxonomy, hosts and geographical dist ribution are discussed. Adults of these larvae are parasitic in pisciv orous fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals (definitive hosts). Fishes h arbouring the larvae of these parasites serve as paratenic hosts, bein g mostly an important source of infection for the definitive hosts.