POLYSTOMATIDAE (MONOGENEA) OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN ANURA - POLYSTOMA-CLAUDECOMBESI N-SP PARASITIC IN RANA-ANGOLENSIS BOCAGE

Polystoma claudecombesi is described as a new species of the Polystoma tidae (Monogenea) parasitic in the urinary bladder of the anuran host Rana angolensis. This parasite was collected at three localities in So uth Africa, namely Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve in Natal province, Wi tsieshoek Mountain Resort in the north-eastern Orange Free State and B ovenste Oog in the province of Transvaal. It is the largest African po lystome described to date. Prevalence at Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve was 4.0% and 2.7% in two successive years, with a mean intensity of 1 .0 (n = 25 and 36, respectively). One of the two R. angolensis from Wi tsieshoek was infected with 5 parasites. The diversity and distributio n of southern African polystomes is also discussed.