During routine survey for amphibian nematodes from coalfield areas of West Bengal, India 7 male and 12 female nematodes were recovered from the rectum of one out of three Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1899) examined for helminth infection from Kulti, Burdwan. On examination the recovered nematodes were found to belong to a new species of the genus Aplectana (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) and the name Aplectana duttaphryni sp. nov. is proposed for them. This species is most similar to those species which possess gubernaculum but differs from all by distribution pattern of caudal papillae. Aplectana duttaphryni sp. nov. represents 49th species assigned to the genus, but only the 4th species reported from Oriental realm and second from India.
Two new species of Oswaldocruzia, O. manuensis sp. nov., and O. urubambaensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Peru, these are parasites of the cane toad Rhinella marina. O. manuensis is characterized by having cervical alae which are not well developed, ridges without chitinous supports, caudal bursa type II and branches of fork of dissimilar length. O. urubambaensis is characterized by a caudal bursa of type I, ridges with chitinous supports, a thin cephalic vesicle and origin of rays 9 in tip of the dorsal trunk.
Amphibians were important prey to the European mink Mustela lutreola, the American mink M. vison, polecat M. putorius, river otter Lutra lutra, and badger Meles meles, and formed a minor component of the food taken by stoat Mustela erminea, weasel M. nivalis, and pine marten Martes martes. Mink and otter strongly selected for frogs Rana spp. and avoided toads Bufo spp. However, the common toad can be an important prey for semiaquatic mustelids under unfavourable feeding conditions. Toads (mainly Bufo bufo, and rarely B. viridis) also occurred in significant numbers in the diets of polecats and badgers, which seemed to prey on frogs and toads with no clear selection.
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