On a new trematode of the genus Astiotrema looss, 1900, from the intestine of a Tortoise, Chitra indica

Abstract

Looss (1898) described a trematode, Distomum reniferum, from the intestine of a turtle, Trionyx nilotica. Later, while reviewing the genus Distomum of Retzius, 1782, the same author (1899) described a new form, Astia impleta, from the intestine of Tetrodon fahaka and also transferred his former species, Distomum reniferum as a type species of this new genus Astia. The generic name was subsequently changed to Astiotrema Looss, 1900 and both the species described originally under Astia are now included under this new name. Odhner (1911) redescribed both the species and added considerably to our account of these forms. Other species have since been added to the genus Astiotrema. The latest addition to our knowledge of the genus Astiotrema is that by Mehra (1931) who has given an interesting account of two new species from the tortoises of Allahabad, and has, besides, given a very useful table and key for the identification of the various species of the genus under review. The present paper deals with an account of another new species of the genus obtained at Lucknow, from the intestine of a tortoise, Chitra indica, from the river Gomti.