Ascaridoid nematodes of amphibia and reptiles: Paraheterotyphlum

The genus Paraheterotyphlum is upheld, the type species, australe Johnston and Mawson, 1948, is redescribed from the type material and compared with specimens collected from the following sea snakes from Australian waters: Pelamis platurus, Hydrophis elegans, Aipysurus laevis, Astrotia stokesii, Disteira kingii. These specimens were also compared with specimens from Laticauda semifasciata and colubrina from Taiwan waters.Two species are differentiated: P. australe and P. ophiophagos Schmidt and Kuntz, 1973 mainly by the larger and more distinct interlocking facets on the lips of the latter species. Third and fourth stage larvae, probably of P. australe are described and the distribution and affinities of these species is discussed.