HAPLORCHIS POPELKAE N. SP (DIGENEA: HETEROPHYIDAE) FROM SHORT NECKED TURTLES (CHELIDAE) IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Haplorchis popelkae n. sp. is described from the intestine of the short-necked turtles Elseya dentata and Emydura victoriae in Northern Territory, Australia. This slipper-shaped heterophyid digenean differs from the 9 previously known species of Haplorchis in its larger overall sire, a forebody that is wider than the hindbody, comparatively short ceca, and a ventral sucker that is less heavily spined than in many other species in the genus. This is the first report of Haplorchis in turtles.