A NEW SPECIES OF RHABDIAS FROM LUNGS OF THE WOOD FROG, RANA SYLVATICA, IN NORTH AMERICA: THE LAST SIBLING OF RHABDIAS RANAE ?

Rhabdias bakeri n. sp. is described from specimens found in lungs of the wood frog, Rana sylvatica, from North Dakota. The new species has previously been mistakenly identified as Rhabdias ranae Walton, 1929, a common parasite of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens. The new species differs from R. ranae and Rhabdias joaquinensis Ingles, 1935 by the shape and size of pseudolabia, shape and size of buccal capsule, and wider esophageal bulb. Molecular analysis based on the partial sequences of nuclear 18S rDNA gene, complete sequences of internal transcribed spacer region, and partial sequences of 28S gene demonstrates clear differences between Rhabdias from Ra. sylvatica and Ra. pipiens, and supports the status of R. bakeri as a new species.