A NEW SPECIES OF OESOPHAGOSTOMOIDES (NEMATODA, CLOACINIDAE) FROM THE NORTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT LASIORHINUS-KREFFTII WITH A KEY TO SPECIESOF THE GENUS

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.