NO. 2131. 



NEMATODE PARAf^ITE^ OF RODENTS— HALL. 



207 



i/iomm. 

 Fig. 260.— PnoTospiRURA ascaroipea. 



VIEWED FROM THE FRONT. 



Lips, 



/Spiropiera hrauni von Linstow, 1S97 (fig. 268), has been regarded 

 here as a synonym of Protospirura muru. This species was recorded 

 from Epiinys rattus {Mus rat f us) in Madagascar. It corresponds 

 without conflict with Protospv%ira murls. 



PROTOSPIRURA ASCAROIDEA 

 Hall, 1916, new species. 



Specif G diagnosis. — Proto- 

 spirura (p. 203) : Large thick 

 worms superficially resembling 

 ascarids. The two large lips 

 have a heavy chitinous invest- 

 ment and are each deeply in- 

 cised to form three lobes. On 

 the median face each lobe bears 

 a series of teeth, the middle 

 tooth in each series being the 

 largest and most prominent 

 (fig. 269). On each side of this 

 large tooth there are three or 

 four smaller teeth in the mid- 

 dle lobe of each lip and two or three on the two outer lobes of each 

 lip. These teeth are formed by differentiation from a continuous 



chitinous plate which forms a 

 cutting edge between the teeth. 

 Individual teeth may be 

 notched to form secondary 

 denticles. There are four large 

 papillae, one at the base of 

 each small lobe near its union 

 with the large central lobe. 

 There is a large cylindrical 

 pharynx heavily lined with 

 chitin (fig. 270). This chiti- 

 nous lining is continuous with 

 th;it covering the lips. Behind 

 this is an esophagus Avhich 

 may be somewhat dilated at its 

 anterior extremity, in which 

 case it quickly diminishes in 

 diameter and then gradually 

 increases posteriorly, diminishing slightly at its union with the intes- 

 tine. There is a valve at the union, the posterior portion of the 

 esophagus being prolonged into the middle of the intestinal lumen. 

 The cuticle is annulated with prominent transverse striations, and 

 between tbes^ are numerous fine transverse striations. 



j/iomm. 



Fig. 270.— rROTCSPIRURA A.SCAROIDEA. ANTERIOR 

 EXTREMITY, LATERAL VIEW. 



