Kalicephalus (Schadius) bilaspurense n.sp. (Nematoda: Diaphanocephalidae): A Parasite of Bengal Lizard, Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802) in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Kalicephalus species are nematode parasites commonly found in the intestines of reptiles. In the present study, Kalicephalus (Schadius) bilaspurense n.sp. (Nematoda: Diaphanocephalidae) recovered from the small intestine of Bengal lizard, Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802) collected at village Naswal, Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India is described. The worms were killed and fixed in formalin and cleared in bulk in lactophenol for microscopic examination. The new species differs from the congeners, mainly oesophagus claviform with three oesophageal teeth; genital cone with two pairs of papillae; shape and size of species and tips of spicules, spatula shaped; gubernaculum lamina shaped and presence of telemon. Moreover, Kalicephalus spp. serves as ecological regulators of its host (Bengal lizard) populations.