CROCODYLOCAPILLARIA LONGIOVATA N. GEN., N. SP. (NEMATODA, CAPILLARIIDAE) FROM THE STOMACH OF CROCODILES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW-GUINEA

A new nematode, Crocodylocapillaria longiovata n. gen. and n. sp., is described from the stomach of wild and farmed young crocodiles, Crocod ylus johnstoni Krefft, and Crocodylus porosus Schneider, from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea: it is undoubtedly identical with the nematodes previously reported as Capillaria sp. from Crocodylus novaeq uineae Schmidt from Irian Jaya, Indonesia. This capillariid species re presents a new genus, being characterized mainly by presence of elonga te eggs with unusually long protruding polar plugs, a well developed v ulvar appendage, a weakly sclerotized spicule, proximal and distal par ts of the spicular sheath with spines, and the male posterior end with 2 large lateral candal lobes and a pair of papillae near the cloacal opening. The body length of C. longiovata males and females is 5,576-7 ,208 mu m and 8,609-14,008 mu m, respectively, the spicule is 276-369 mu m long; the size of the egg proper is 48-60 x 15-21 mu m, length of polar plugs 15-18 mu m. Neocapillaria Yi and Guitang, 1994, a junior homonym of Neocapillaria Moravec, 1987, is a re-named Sinocapillaria n om. n. and placed as a synonym of Pseudocapillaria Freitas, 1959. Indo capillaria De and Maity, 1995 is retained as a subgenus of Pseudocapil laria because of the possession of a vulvar appendage in the type spec ies. Neocapillaria Moravec, 1987 remains a subgems of Capillaria Zeder , 1800. A key to genera of the Capillariidae from poikilotherm vertabr ates is provided: C. longiovata is the first capillariid species descr ibed from the digestive tract of crocodiles.