Falcaustra tannaensis is the 87th discovered species of the nematode genus Falcaustra.[1] It has been identified in geckos from Tanna Island, Vanuatu.[1] Species of Falcaustra have been known parasites that occur in the digestive tracts of fish, amphibians, and mammals.[1] Until 2010, none had ever been identified in the South Pacific Islands.[1]
| Falcaustra tannaensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Chromadorea |
| Order: | Rhabditida |
| Family: | Kathlaniidae |
| Genus: | Falcaustra |
| Species: | F. tannaensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Falcaustra tannaensis Bursey et al., 2010
| |
Falcaustra tannaensis is a nematode with a cylindrical body tapering anteriorly and posteriorly.[1] It has a thin cuticle with fine, regular striations.[1] Mouth opening is triangular, surrounded by 3 large lips, each with 2 papillai, amphidial pore at lateral edge of each subventral lip.[1] Its lip support is lightly sclerotized. Cervical papillae slightly posterior to nerve ring, inconspicuous. The tail is conical and pointed in both sexes.[1] It is also related to Falcaustra pelusios, a nematode that infects the gastrointestinal tract of turtles.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Charles R. Bursey; Stephen R. Goldberg; Alison M. Hamilton; Christopher C. Austin (2010). "A new species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Nactus pelagicus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Tanna Island, Vanuatu". Journal of Parasitology. 96 (5): 968–97. doi:10.1645/GE-2468.1. PMID 20469950. S2CID 35336362.
- ^ V. Roca; G. García; A. Montesinos (2007). "Gastrointestinal helminths found in the three freshwater turtles: (Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides) from Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar". Helminthologia. 44 (4): 177–182. doi:10.2478/s11687-007-0028-2.