PARACUARIA-HISPANICA N-SP (NEMATODA, ACUARIIDAE), A STOMACH PARASITE OF THE PYRENEAN DESMAN GALEMYS-PYRENAICUS GEOFFR (INSECTIVORA, TALPIDAE), WITH A REDEFINITION OF THE GENUS PARACUARIA RAO, 1951

Adult and fourth-stage larvae of Paracuaria hispanica n. sp., from the stomach of the Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus Geoffroy (Insectivo ra: Talpidae) in northern and central Spain, are described. The new sp ecies differs from the other members of the genus Paracuaria (P. adunc a and P. soricis), among other morphological details, in its smaller b ody and spicule sizes, the presence of a cuticular ring around the tip of the female tail, and the existence of lateral alae running longitu dinally along its body from the cervical region to the tail. In view o f the latter feature, the genus Paracuaria is redefined. The fourth st age larva of the new species is distinguished from that of P. adunca b y its monocuspid deirids. P. hispanica occurred in 45% of the 20 host specimens examined.