Morphologic and Genetic Characterization of Protospirura canariensis n. sp. (Nematoda, Spiruridae), a Parasite of the Black Rat Rattus rattus (Rodentia, Muridae) from El Hierro Island (Canary Archipelago, Spain)

A new spirurid nematode, Protospirura canariensis n. sp., a parasite of the black rat Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 (Rodentia: Muridae), in El Hierro Island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was described by means light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The most discriminating characteristics between species remaining genus were observed to be following: (a) number tooth-like outgrowths sub-median lateral lobes pseudolabia, both males females (2 4, respectively); (b) size right left spicules (643–715 µm 309–412 µm, (c) numbers arrangements cloacal papillae males. has total 17 (4 large pedunculated pairs precloacal papillae, an unpaired papilla 4 postcloacal papillae). arrangement are as follows: first pair large, placed near posterior edge cloaca; three grouped located tip. In latter group, pedunculated. parasitized hosts their geographical distributions also useful criteria distinguishing P. sp. from Protospirura. addition, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequence obtained compared with available data related species.