TAXONOMIC AND BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON STREPTOCARA CALIFORNICA (GEDOELST, 1919) GEDOELST AND LIÉGEOIS, 1922 AND THE GENUS STREPTOCARA (NEMATODA: ACUARIIDAE)

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Gibson, George G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1964
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Canada; Aythya marila
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z64-075; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z64-075

A detailed redescription is presented for adults of Streptocara californica (Gedoelst, 1919) Gedoelst and Liégeois, 1922 based on specimens from under the gizzard lining of a common scoter, Oidemia nigra (L.), from Vancouver, Canada. Adult S. californica are here reported from the type host, Melanitta deglandi (Bonap.), and from the following new hosts near Vancouver: Anas platyrhynchos L., Aythya valisineria (Wilson), Bucephala islandica (Gmelin), Clangula hyemalis (L.), Melanitta perspicillata (L.), and Mergus serrator L. A description of the fourth-stage larvae is presented, based on specimens from Aythya marila (L.), Melanitta perspicillata (L.), and Mergus merganser L. from the same region. Yseria californica Gedoelst, 1919; Korjakinema gusi Oschmarin, 1950; Streptocara dogieli Belopolskaya, 1952; and Skrjabinobronema californicum (Gedoelst, 1919) Yamaguti, 1961 are considered synonyms of Streptocara californica. A comparison of the prevalence of S. californica with that of S. crassicauda charadrii Skrjabin, 1916 seems to indicate rather different life cycles for the two species. It is suggested that the genus Streptocara may be more highly evolved than the other genera of the Seuratiinae.