Soboliphyme baturini (Nematoda: Soboliphymatidae) Recovered from Stomach of Asian Badger, Meles leucurus, in Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea.

We are going to describe the female soboliphymid nematodes, which were recovered from the stomach of a Asian badger, Meles leucurus (Mammalia: Mustelidae), in Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. In February 1998, we found 2 peculiar nematodes with a cup-like organ in the anterior end from the stomach of badger. Recovered worms were fixed with 10% formalin, cleared in glycerin-alcohol solution and observed under a light microscope with a micrometer. They were 34.46 (33.43-35.50) mm long by 2.13 mm at maximum width. Cephalic sucker cup-like, 3.34 (3.13-3.55) mm wide, 2.40 (2.25-2.55) mm long, with the oral aperture and meridionally striated on the buccal capsule. Oral aperture 2.38 mm in diameter. Circumoral membrane 0.41 (0.38-0.45) mm wide. Esophagus muscular, 4.81 (4.50-5.00) mm long by 0.80 (0.78-0.83) mm at maximum width. Vulva situated at 3.13 mm ventro-anterior level from the esophago-intestinal junction. Vagina anteriad, 3.38 mm long, making a canal from the uterus to the vulva opening. Uterus single, large. Tail 0.35 (0.33-0.38) mm long. Intrauterine eggs long elliptical, 0.058-0.065 (0.062) mm long and 0.030-0.033 (0.031) mm wide. Based on the some morphological characters and host-specificity, our specimens are nearly identical with S. baturini. Therefore, the present report describes S. baturini for the first time in Korea.