[A new filaria, Chabfilaria jonathani n.gen, n.sp., an onchocercid parasite of edentates].

Chabfilaria jonathani n. gen., n. sp. is described from Choloepus didactylus (family Bradypodidae) from French Guyana. This species and C. freitaslenti (Yeh, 1957) n. comb., constitute a genus interesting because of its primitive characters, which could represent a link between the Onchocercinae and the Setariinae. Eleven species of filaria are known from the Xenarthra. They are primitive members of the Onchocercinae, the Dirofilariinae and if our notions on Chabfilaria are correct, the Setariinae; thus, the three major groups which occur in mammals. The neotropical region with its primitive fauna (marsupials, Xenarthra and protoungulates) may be of particular importance in understanding the origins of the filaria of mammals.