A NEW SPECIES OF OESOPHAGOSTOMOIDES (NEMATODA, CLOACINIDAE) FROM THE NORTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT LASIORHINUS-KREFFTII WITH A KEY TO SPECIESOF THE GENUS
Lr. Smales, A NEW SPECIES OF OESOPHAGOSTOMOIDES (NEMATODA, CLOACINIDAE) FROM THE NORTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT LASIORHINUS-KREFFTII WITH A KEY TO SPECIESOF THE GENUS, The Journal of parasitology, 80(4), 1994, pp. 638-643
Lasiorhinus krefftii, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, is a rare and e
ndangered marsupial existing as a single population in the Epping Fore
st National Park, Queensland, Australia. Dissection of a juvenile womb
at that had died from natural causes revealed the presence in the colo
n of a new species of Oesophagostomoides Schwartz, 1928, a genus found
only in wombats (Vombatidae, Marsupialia). Oesophagostomoides eppinge
nsis n. sp. differs from the other species in the genus in the length
of spicule, form of the dorsal ray, length of the vagina, and proporti
ons of the female's posterior end. Morphological similarities between
species suggest that there may have been switching of the species of O
esophagostomoides between L. krefftii and Vombatus ursinus (the common
wombat). The potential contribution of colon parasites to the energy
budget of wombats may be of importance when determining conservation m
anagement strategies for L. krefftii.