NO. 9 cuckler: nematode parasites 151 



Alaeuris conolophi, new species 

 (Plate 15, figs. 22-27) 



The following description is based upon a study of the least num- 

 erous animals in the collection. There were 40 males and 90 females 

 of this species, approximately 3 per cent of the entire collection. The 

 females that are assigned to this species are all immature, but they 

 possess certain resemblances to the males, especially in the structure of 

 the lips and the anterior end of the esophagus. There is a slight differ- 

 ence in the relative position of the excretoi-j' pore, which is postbulbar, 

 but this difference may be due to the immaturity of the specimens. 



The animals are slender and spindle-shaped. From the mid-body 

 region the body gradually tapers anteriorly to the rounded cephalic 

 region and posteriorly to the short, blunt tail of the male, or to the 

 slender, long pointed tail of the female. The length of the male (fig. 



22) ranges from 3.10 to 3.91 (average 3.42) mm. The females (fig. 



23) range from 2.81 to 3.26 (average 2.98) mm. in length by 0.18 

 to 0.24 (average 0.21) mm. in maximum width. 



There is a thin, clear cuticula which has striations about 0.008 mm. 

 apart. The females have no cervical or lateral alae, but the males pos- 

 sess a thickened cuticula in the lateral line region of the posterior ex- 

 tremity of the body. This region extends anteriorly from the cloacal 

 region for about 0.144 mm. and at this point the cuticula becomes the 

 same thickness as that which covers the rest of the body. AVhether or 

 not these thickened regions of the cuticula are evidences of lateral alae 

 would be a matter of individual interpretation. It is interesting to note, 

 however, that this is the only indication of possible lateral alae en- 

 countered in this study of four species of Alaeuris. 



The cephalic region (fig. 24) is evident in the female, but slightly 

 less evident in the male. The lips are slightly lobed. The mouth is termi- 

 nal and is surrounded by three simple lips. The cephalic papillae (fig. 

 25) are located on the anterior margins of the lips. There are six 

 cephalic papillae and two amphids. Each of the lips has two papillae 

 near the median anterior margin; amphids are present on the ventro- 

 lateral lips. The number and arrangement of the papillae are the same 

 in the male and the immature female. 



There is a very shallow buccal cavity. The anterior end of the 

 esophagus is bluntly rounded and cuticularized. No projections arise 

 from the esophageal wall. The nerve ring encircles the anterior end 



