A new Eimeria sp from the plumbeous Central American caecilian, Dermophis mexicanus (Amphibia : Gymnophiona) from Volcan Tajumulco, Department of SanMarcos, Guatemala

Fresh fecal samples from 5 caecilians (Dermophis mexicanus) were collected and examined for coccidia in the summer of 1998. The caecilians were collec ted in the Department of San Marcos, Guatemala. Two of the 5 (40%) specimen s of caecilians contained an Eimeria species that is described hers as new. This represents the first coccidia described from a gymnophionian host Spo rulated oocysts are spheroidal to subspheroidal, 19.5 x 17.7 (16-23 x 15-21 ) mu m, micropyle and oocyst residuum an absent, and 3 (or more) polar gran ules are always present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.0 x 7.2 (10-12 x 6-9); a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present.