Author(s): K Shinad and PK Prasadan

Abstract: Western Ghats, one of the hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world, has very rich amphibian diversity. In an attempt to map the digenetic trematode fauna of the frogs of this region, as a part of a major research project, we came across three species of trematode parasites infecting the water skipper, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Anura, Dicroglossidae) collected during January 2016 to April 2017. Detailed study revealed that one species is new to science and is named Diplodiscus cyanophlycti n.sp. (Digenea, Paramphistomidae) after the name of its host. Other two trematodes were Ganeo tigrinus, and Halipegus mehransis. All the three species of parasites were recovered from the duodenum of E. cyanophlyctis. D. cyanophlycti n.sp. is new to the genus and is separated from its congeners on the basis of differences in the morphology and morphometry. Of the 68 E. cyanophlyctis studied, six were infected with D. cyanophlycti n.sp, 12 were infected with G. tigrinus and two with H. Mehransis. Prevalence of D. cyanophlycti n.sp. Infection is 8.82%, that of G. tigrinus is 17.64% and of G. tigrinus is 2.94%. Intensity of infection is higher (3.8) in G. tigrinus followed by H. mehransis D. cyanophlycti n.sp. Among the 17 E. cyanophlyctis infected with the three parasites, three exhibited mixed infections in different combinations. Thus the incidence of mixed infection is 17.65%.

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