REEVALUATION OF MAZAMASTRONGYLUS-DAGESTANICA (TRICHOSTRONGYLIDAE) WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SYNLOPHE, GENITAL CONE, AND OTHER STRUCTURAL CHARACTERS

The synlophe of specimens of Mazamastrongylus dagestanica was characte rized laterally and ventrally by a strongly tapering system of ridges in the cervical zone. This pattern, including the prominent system of ''hood'' ridges adjacent to the excretory pore and the absence of cont inuous subdorsal and subventral ridges is considered typical for the g enus Mazamastrongylus. The synlophe of males and females was largely i dentical, with 37 - 41 ridges at the midbody. The lateral synlophe, wh ere 2 pairs of ridges converge and terminate on the lateralmost ridge anterior to the cervical papillae appears unique for M. dagestanica an d indicates that species-specific patterns may be recognized for Mazam astrongylus spp. Among male specimens, a bilobed ventral membrane, dis tinct from the simple and unpaired membrane, which envelops the ''0'' papillae, extends posterolaterally from the genital cone. It had not b een described in detail previously and was also found in M. odocoilei and M. pursglovei. Characters of the bursa, genital cone, and spicules are consistent with placement of M. dagestanica in Mazamastrongylus; referral of this species to Spiculopteragia cannot be supported.