FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE MALE AND REDESCRIPTION OF THE FEMALE OF PARATRICHOSOMA-RECURVUM (NEMATODA, CAPILLARIIDAE), A SKIN-INVADING PARASITE OF CROCODILES IN MEXICO

The first description of the male and a redescription of the female of the nematode Paratrichosoma recurvum (Solger, 1877), a parasite of th e abdominal skin of crocodiles, are presented on the basis of specimen s collected from Crocodilus moreletii Dumeril et Bibron from the Lagoo n of Celestun, Yucatan, Mexico. The morphology of P. recurvum proved t o be very similar to that of the only other congeneric species, P. cro codylus Ashford et Muller, 1978, but the former differed from the latt er in having distinctly protruding polar plugs on eggs, reduced mesenc hymal cells at the esophagointestinal junction, and a smooth spicular surface as well as in geographic distribution. The finding of P. recur vum in C. moreletii represents a new host record. Paratrichosoma spp. appear to be widely distributed in tropical countries of different con tinents and may be of economic importance for crocodile farms.