Parasites of the relict fauna of Ceylon. VIII. Helminths from Ichthyophis spp. (Amphibia: Gymnophiona).

Trematodes and nematodes are recorded for the first time, and described, from the endemic caecilians Ichthyophis glutinosus (L) and I. orthoplicatus Taylor, 1965 of Sri Lanka. The trematodes are of the species Gorgoderina carli Baer, 1930, from the urinary bladder, and Mesocoelium monas (Rudolphi, 1819) from the small intestine. The nematodes are referred to the species Rhabdias escheri Baer, 1930, from the body cavity and lungs, a new host-record; Pelodera chabaudi sp. nov., from the stomach, small intestine and rectum; and Meteterakis sinharajensis Crusz and Ching, 1976, from the rectum, also a new host-record. Pelodera chabaudi is recognised as a new species on the basis of the arrangment of the bursal papillae, the very prominent pair of fleshy papillae on the cloacal elevation, and the markedly anteriad position of the free proximal ends of the distally fused spicules.