Philophthalmus hegeneri sp. n., an Ocular Trematode from Birds

Philophthalmus hegeneri sp. n. is described from adults reared from megalurous cercariae developing in the marine snail, Batillaria minima (Gmelin, found infected at numerous shore localities along the Gulf of Mexico from Dunedin to Key West, Florida). Metacercariae in flask-shaped cysts were infective orally and ocularly to various experimental birds including domestic chickens and pigeons, Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Western Gull (Larus occidentalis), and the Southern Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda). Natural avian hosts include the Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea), Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla), and the Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus). The genus Ophthalmotrema is considered a synonym of Philophthalmus. This is the first time a marine gastropod has been implicated in the biology of any member of this genus.