Elsevier

Acta Tropica

Volume 148, August 2015, Pages 46-50
Acta Tropica

Squamasnema amazonica n. gen. n. sp. (Heligmonellinae): A new parasite of Proechimys roberti (Rodentia: Echimyidae) in the Brazilian Amazon

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.005Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • New genus of Heligmonelidae nematodes.

  • Nematodes from Brazilian Amazon.

  • Scanning electron microscopy of nematodes.

Abstract

A new species of nematode, Squamasnema amazonica n. gen. n. sp., is described based on specimens found parasitizing the small intestine of Proechimys roberti (Rodentia: Echimyidae) collected during a survey of the fauna of Tapirapé-Aquirí National Forest (Brazil, Eastern Brazilian Amazon). The nematodes were fixed and processed for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These nematodes were classified under the family Heligmonellidae and the subfamily Heligmonellinae. Although several species in the family Heligmonellidae exhibit discontinuous ridges, Squamasnema n. gen. and Trichotravassosia are the only genera with columns of scales along their entire body, as an apomorphy of the synlophe. Squamasnema n. gen. has columns of cuticular cells along its body, except for on the left flank, and exhibits a synlophe with no size gradient or inclination and does not present chitinized structures supporting the synlophe. Therefore, due to these morphological differences of Squamasnema n. gen., the creation of a new genus was necessary.

Keywords

Brazilian Amazon
Heligmonellinae
Squamasnema amazonica
Rodents
Proechimys roberti

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