Nematode parasite, Auchenacantha spp of flying lemur, Cynocephalus variegatus (Audebert, 1799) from Indonesia: Morphological study with SEM.

OBJECTIVE To observe morphology of Auchenacantha galeopteri (A. galeopteri), Auchenacantha spinosa (A. spinosa) and Auchenacantha parva (A. parva) from Sukabumi and Ujung Kulon, Indonesia using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS Specimens for light microscopy examination were fixed with warm 70% alcohol, cleared and mounted in lactophenol for wet mounting. Drawings were made with the aid of a drawing tube attached to a Nikon compound microscope. Specimens for SEM examination were processed according to Bozzola. Measurements were given in micrometers (µm) as the average of findings, followed by the range in parentheses, unless otherwise stated. RESULTS The measurements of Auchenacantha spp are same with those of previously described. The striations of male and female A. galeopteri are widen towards outside and wavy. The mouth of female with 6 lips, each of them is wider at base than distal end in A. galeopteri and rectangular in A. spinosa. Both species have dentiform protrusion from inner surface of lips, such structure absent in A. parva, but the lips with transverse festoon like pattern at anterior end of each lip. CONCLUSIONS Using SEM, the lip and the striation pattern of three species of Auchenacantha can be clearly distinguished. Sukabumi and Ujung Kulon are new locality of A. galeopteri and A. spinosa, and A. parva is the new record in Indonesia.