Three new helminth species from two endemic plethodontid salamanders, Typhlomolge rathbuni and Eurycea nana, in central Texas

Helminthological examination of two rare, endemic species of plethodontid s alamanders, the Texas blind salamander (Typhlomolge rathbuni Stejneger) and the San Marcos dwarf salamander (Eurycea nana Bishop), from the subterrane an waters and springs in San Marcos, Hays County, central Texas; USA reveal ed the presence of three new, previously undescribed species of intestinal helminths: Brachycoelium longleyi sp. n. (Trematoda) from T. rathbuni (type host) and E. nana, Dendronucleata americana sp. n. (Acanthocephala) from T . rathbuni, and Amphibiocapillaria texensis sp. n. (Nematoda) from T. rathb uni; nematode larvae probably belonging to the last named species were reco rded from E. nana. Brachycoelium longleyi can be distinguished from all con geners primarily by its conspicuously small eggs among other features, wher eas A. texensis differs from ifs closest congeneric species A. tritonispunc tati mainly in the structure of mature eggs and a markedly shorter spicule. Dendronucleata americana is the first species of the family Dendronucleati dae from the New World, differing from its Asian congeners mainly in the nu mber and arrangement of proboscis hooks, number of giant hypodermic nuclei and in the position of testes.