The lungworms (Nematoda: Pseudaliidae) of the Odontoceti. Part I

• Published in: Parasitology
• Main Author: Dougherty, Ellsworth C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1944
• Subjects: Infectious Diseases; Animal Science and Zoology; Parasitology; Dougherty; toothed whales
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182000012014; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0031182000012014

The present paper includes two sections of a proposed series on the lungworms of the Odontoceti or toothed whales. Only members of the family Delphinidae among the Odontoceti have so far been reported as hosts to these lungworms. The first section deals with the systematic relationships of the lungworms of the Odontoceti. They are held to constitute a family Pseudaliidae in the superfamily Metastrongyloidea. The nature of the female reproductive system and specifically of the ovejectoral apparatus in the suborder Strongylina is discussed and the concept expressed that the organization of the latter structure is of phylogenetic and taxonomic importance in this group. On the basis of variations in the ovejectoral apparatus three families of strongyline lungworms (except for Syngamus v. Siebold, 1836) are recognized—Dictyocaulidae Skriabin, 1941, Metastrongylidae Leiper, 1909, and Pseudaliidae Railliet, 1916. The second section deals with the genus Halocercus Baylis & Daubney, 1925. Previous literature is reviewed. A key and table of measurements for the known species are presented. H. invaginatus (Quekett, 1841) Dougherty, 1943, is redescribed, and H. kirbyi n.sp. named and described.