SPAULIGODON-TIMBAVATIENSIS N. SP. (NEMATODA, PHARYNGODONIDAE) FROM PACHYDACTYLUS-TURNERI (SAURIA, GEKKONIDAE) IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE, SOUTH-AFRICA

Spauligodon timbavatiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of Pachydactylus turneri (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in the Northern Province (RSA) is described and illustrated. It is the fifth species in the Ethiopian region, the others being Spauligodon smithi f rom Pachydactylus bibronii and Spauligodon petersi from Mabuya sulcata , both in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa, Spauligodon morgan i from Mabuya striata in Malawi, and Spauligodon dimorpha from Chamael eo pardalis in Madagascar. The males of the new species differ from S. srmithi in that the adcloacal papillae are single (bifid in S. smith, ), from S. petersi in the presence of a spicule and having narrow late ral alae (wide and triangular in S. petersi) and from S. dimorpha and S. morgani in having a spicule. Furthermore, S. timbavatiensis differs from S. morgani in lacking spines on the tail. The females of the new species have a long tail and truncated egg ends as opposed to the sho rt, spiky tail and pointed eggs of S. morgani; a spiny tail and trunca ted eggs as opposed to the smooth tail and pointed eggs of S. petersi and a longer oesophagus than S. smithi. Furthermore, the females of S. . dimorpha and S. morgani are much larger than those of S. timbavatien sis. In addition, the excretory pore opens behind the posterior end of the oesophageal bulb in the new species, while in S. smithi and S. di morpha it opens at the level of the end of the oesophageal bulb.