PARASITISM IN Rhinella spinulosa (WIEGMANN, 1834) (ANURA: BUFONIDAE) BY Aplectana hylambatis (BAYLIS, 1927) (NEMATODA: COSMOCERCIDAE) IN ARGENTINA

Abstract

In Argentina, nine species of nematodes of the genus Aplectana are mentioned parasitizing reptiles and Anuran amphibians. We present the first record of Aplectana hylambatis parasitizing the amphibian Rhinella spinulosa in Quebrada Vallecito, Calingasta department, San Juan province, Argentina. In males, disposition of caudal papillae, presence of gubernaculum, articulated spicules, unpaired papilla in the anterior region of the cloaca and prodelphic females with prebulbar excretory pore with festooned edge of vulva and post-equatorial position allowed its identification as A. hylambatis. The following work contributes to the knowledge of amphibian parasitism, mentioning the first record for Argentina of R. spinulosa parasitism. Morphometric data and an updated list of parasitic nematodes in Amphibians for the province of San Juan, Argentina are presented