316 



Memoirs of the Indian Museum. 



[Vol. VII, 



The complete specimen came from an unnamed species of Varanus. It measures 

 about 250 mm. in length and 1-4 mm. in thickness. The cuticle is marked through- 

 out with prominent, raised, transverse wrinkles 

 at irregular intervals, suggesting spines when 

 seen in optical section. The head, which has 

 a diameter about 045 mm., is squarish in front, 

 the mouth often lying at the base of a funnel- 

 like depression. There are two small, but 

 prominent, chitinoid teeth, projecting forward, 

 one on either side of the mouth. A little further 

 back on each side there are three small, sessile, 

 cephalic papillae. The oesophagus has a very 

 short, narrow, anterior, muscular portion and a 

 very long and wide, posterior, glandular portion. 

 The length of the former is o - 6 mm. ; of the 

 latter, 30 mm. At its commencement the 

 glandular portion occupies the whole width of 

 the body-cavity. The nerve-ring surrounds the 

 anterior portion somewhat behind its middle. 

 Neither cervical papillae nor an excretory pore 

 were seen. 



Fig. 52. — Filaria varani. 

 ventral view. 

 s. ; spicule. 



Tail of male : 



The anus is almost terminal. The tail-end is bluntly rounded, and carries a pair 

 of papillae at its extremity. The vulva opens at 1-15 mm. from the anterior end. 

 The muscular vagina may run straight back, or may be much convoluted. The ova 

 (fig. 51) are of very characteristic shape, somewhat resembling a barrel, with an annu- 

 lar thickening near each pole. They measure 0-05 X 003 mm., have thick shells, and 

 contain coiled embryos when ready for laying. 



This species, according to Henry and O'Zoux (1909), should be referred to the genus Diplolriaena, 

 but with this view we are unable to agree. 



Filaria varani, sp. nov. 



(Fig- 52.) 



A single male individual from Varanus jiavescens does not agree with the male 

 of F. macrophallos, and must be regarded provisionally as belonging to a new species. 

 It measures about 108 mm. in length and 07 mm. in 

 thickness. The characters of the anterior end are 

 similar to those of F. macrophallos. The diameter of 

 the head is 0^23 mm. The anterior portion of the 

 oesophagus is 035 mm. in length, and the posterior 

 portion 16 mm. 



The tail (fig. 52) is 0"i6 mm. long, and there are 

 well-developed caudal alae, which are continuous round 



o-OSmm. 

 Fig. 51. — Filaria macrophallos. 



Ova. 



