Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Laudakia nupta nupta (Sauria: Agamidae) from Iran with Descriptions of Two New Species (Oxyuridea: Pharyngodonidae) and comments on the diagnostic features of Parapharyngodon and Thelandros

Seventeen specimens of Laudakia nupta nupta (De Filippi, 1843), from several locations in central plain of Iran were examined for gastrointestinal parasitic helminths. Nematodes of different families and genera were the only worms found. The nematodes included one Parapharyngodon sp., three Thelandros spp., and one Thubunea sp. All species found in this study are new geographical records and two of the species are new to science. Parapharyngodon thulini sp. nov. and Thelandros karkasensis sp. nov. are, hereby, described and illustrated. To identify some of the fine morphological characteristics, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was carried out for selected specimens. Furthermore, the most important discriminating characteristics for species of Parapharyngodon and Thelandros are described. This study represents the first parasitological study on L. nupta nupta.