Aplectana hoplobatrachusia sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–11)

General morphology: Small and slender worms. Females much longer than males. Lateral alae well-developed, extending from slightly anterior to the cervical papillae to the anal region in both sexes. Cuticle transversely striated. Four regular submedian rows of somatic papillae extend from the level anterior to the nerve ring to the anal region in both male and female. Mouth triangular in shape surrounded by three well-developed lips, one dorsal and two ventrolateral. Dorsal lip bearing two large submedian cephalic papillae and each of the ventrolateral lips bearing one submedian cephalic papilla and a lateral amphid. Oesophagus divided into a short pharynx, a long corpus, a small isthmus and a large valved oesophageal bulb. Cervical papillae spine-like, situated above the nerve ring. Excretory pore situated at the junction of isthmus and oesophageal bulb.

Male: Small worms. Body 1.10–1.62 (1.16) in length and 0.11–0.15 (0.12) in width. Total length of oesophagus 0.38–0.42 (0.39), of pharynx 0.05–0.06 (0.05) long and 0.04–0.05 (0.042) wide, of cylindrical part of oesophagus 0.23–0.24 (0.23) long and 0.04–0.055 (0.054) wide, of oesophageal bulb 0.10–0.12 (0.11) long and 0.11–0.13 (0.12) wide. Distance of nerve ring 0.11–0.14 (0.12), of excretory pore 0.20–0.27 (0.22), of cervical papillae 0.170– 0.177 (0.174) from anterior end. Tail 0.14–0.21 (0.17) long, gradually tapering to a fine point. Caudal papillae larger than somatic papillae and sixteen to seventeen pairs in number: four pairs preanal, one to two pairs adanal and ten pairs postanal in position. In addition to the paired papillae an unpaired papilla is situated at the middle of the upper lip of cloacal opening. Of the preanal papillae three pairs ventral and one pair subventral in position. Adanal papillae located lateral to the cloacal opening. In SEM micrograph in cloacal region of male two pairs adanal papillae are observed, one pair located very close to the lateral margin of the cloacal opening and the other pair located subventrally. Postanal papillae subventral in position except the first pair which is ventral in position and situated just posterior to the cloaca. Spicules 0.16–0.21 (0.16) long and 0.009–0.009 (0.009) wide, sub-equal, simple and non-alate with sharply pointed distal end. Gubernaculum absent. Cloacal opening wide and semilunar in shape.

Female: Females much longer than males. Body 2.27–4.50 (2.50) in length and 0.16–0.34 (0.18) in width. Total length of oesophagus 0.51–0.59 (0.55), of pharynx 0.07–0.08 (0.08) long and 0.06–0.065 (0.063), of cylindrical part of oesophagus 0.30–0.36 (0.34) long and 0.05–0.06 (0.05), of oesophageal bulb 0.14–0.15 (0.14) long and 0.22–0.25 (0.23) wide. Distance of nerve ring 0.16–0.18 (0.18), of excretory pore 0.26–0.39 (0.29), of cervical papillae 0.31–0.33 (0.32) from anterior end. Tail 0.36–0.50 (0.39) long and gradually tapers to a long filament and ends in a fine point. Anus forming a transverse slit. Vulva situated at the middle of the body, 1.09– 2.29 (1.30) from anterior end. Vagina at first transversely and anteriorly directed and then posteriorly directed. Ovaries two in number with prodelphic uteri containing numerous eggs in various stages of development. Mature eggs 0.08–0.098 X 0.069–0.072 (0.08 X 0.07), thin-shelled and embryonated.