Polystoma cuvieri n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) a Parasite of the Urinary Bladder of the Leptodactylid Frog Physalaemus cuvieri in Paraguay

Abstract

A new species of polystomatid monogenean, Polystoma cuvieri, is described from the urinary bladder of the leptodactylid frog Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger in Paraguay. This new species possesses a reticulated intestine and hamuli of about 350 microns long. The closest species is Polystoma napoensis Vaucher, 1987, described from Osteocephalus spp. in Ecuador. The Paraguayan material is distinguished by the blade size of the hamuli. The hamuli blades appear to be useful in Polystoma systematics.