Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2009
Two new species are described from New Guinea pythons, i.e. Ophidascaris niuginiensis and O. papuanus. The former was from Chondropython viridis and Liasis albertisi, the latter from L. amethistinus. Development of O. niuginiensis in mice involved a primary stage in the liver, a secondary stage in the mesenteric blood vessels and a tertiary stage in the skin, where growth occurred to a length of 50 mm or more. Initial growth, up to 10 mm, of O. papuanus occurred in the liver and body cavity of mice; a secondary growth phase occurred in the body cavity of the python host.