Moaciria moraveci
Encyclopedia
Moaciria moraveci is a parasitic worm
infecting a Hylophorbus
frog on Fergusson Island
, Papua New Guinea
. It is a member of the genus Moaciria, a nematode
in the family Heterakidae. Moaciria was first described, in 1956, from the Brazilian Noronha skink
, but other species from more parts of the world have since been described.
Moaciria moraveci is a small but stout nematode. The male is smaller than the female. In males, total length is 2.59 to 2.85 mm, and in females, it is 2.94 to 4.16 mm.
The only known host is a frog in the genus Hylophorbus from Fergusson, close to but perhaps distinct from Hylophorbus rufescens
; it is present in 10 out of 21 specimens examined. It infects the large intestine
. Other parasites in this species include Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Cosmocerca tyleri, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, and a species of Physocephalus.
Parasitic worm
Parasitic worms or helminths are a division of eukaryoticparasites that, unlike external parasites such as lice and fleas, live inside their host. They are worm-like organisms that live and feed off living hosts, receiving nourishment and protection while disrupting their hosts' nutrient...
infecting a Hylophorbus
Hylophorbus
Hylophorbus is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to New Guinea.-Species:-External links:. 2007. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.1 . . Electronic Database accessible at http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.php. American Museum of Natural History, New...
frog on Fergusson Island
Fergusson Island
Fergusson Island is the largest island of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, in Papua New Guinea. It has an area of just over 500 square miles , and mostly consists of mountainous regions, covered by rain forests...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is a member of the genus Moaciria, a nematode
Nematode
The nematodes or roundworms are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of nematode...
in the family Heterakidae. Moaciria was first described, in 1956, from the Brazilian Noronha skink
Noronha skink
The Noronha skink is a species of skink from the island of Fernando de Noronha off northeastern Brazil. It is covered with dark and light spots on the upperparts and is usually about 7 to 10 cm in length. The tail is long and muscular, but breaks off easily...
, but other species from more parts of the world have since been described.
Moaciria moraveci is a small but stout nematode. The male is smaller than the female. In males, total length is 2.59 to 2.85 mm, and in females, it is 2.94 to 4.16 mm.
The only known host is a frog in the genus Hylophorbus from Fergusson, close to but perhaps distinct from Hylophorbus rufescens
Hylophorbus rufescens
Hylophorbus rufescens is a species of frog in the Microhylidae family.It is found in West Papua in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
; it is present in 10 out of 21 specimens examined. It infects the large intestine
Large intestine
The large intestine is the third-to-last part of the digestive system — — in vertebrate animals. Its function is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter, and then to pass useless waste material from the body...
. Other parasites in this species include Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Cosmocerca tyleri, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, and a species of Physocephalus.
Literature cited
- Bursey, C.R., Goldberg, S.R. and Kraus, F. 2007. A new species of Moaciria (Nematoda, Heterakidae) and other helminths in the red Mawatta frog, Hylophorbus cf. rufescens (Anura, Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea (subscription only). Acta Parasitologica 52(3):233–237.