Four Trematode Parasites (Plagiorchiidae Lühe, 1901 emend. Ward, 1917) from Reptiles of Lucknow

Abstract

Four species of trcmatode parasites of reptiles collected in Lucknow are described, namely, Astiotrema reniferum (Looss, 1898) Looss, 1900, from Kachuga dhongoka, A. lissemydis n. sp., from Lissemys punctata punctata, and Xenopharynx biliphaga Srivastava, 1954, from Tropidonotus Piseator, of the subfamily Plagiorchiinae Pratt, 1902; and Encylometra colubrimurorum (Rud., 18 19) Dollfus, 1929, of the subfamily Encylometrinae Mehra, 1931, from the esophagus of T. piseator. Keys to the species of Astiotrema Looss, 1900 and Xenopharynx Nicoll, 1912 are given. The importance of the variation in position of organs in the taxonomy of these trematodes is pointed out in the discussion.