Redescription of Monticellius indicum Mehra, 1939 (Digenea: Spirorchiidae)from the Heart of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Costa Rica

Abstract

Monticellius indicum Mehra, 1939, is redescribed from the heart of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Tortuguero National Park, Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Of the 40 green turtles examined, only 5 (12.5%) were infected with a mean intensity of 1.6. Our specimens are consistent with the original description based on a single fluke from the heart of the same host species in the Arabian Sea, Pakistan, but our redescription provides an unreported range of vari- ation while adding new information about acetabulum structure and egg morphology.