A STUDY OF FILARIA MARTIS GMELIN, 1790 FROM MARTES FOINA AND PEDETES CAFFER

A detailed study has been made of specimens of Filaria martis from a European mustelid (Martes foina) and an African rodent (Pedetes caffer). Other species assigned to the genus Filaria are considered in the light of this study. Apart from Filaria martis, F. cephalophi is the only other member of the genus that is satisfactorily characterized. F. hyracis is probably a synonym of F. martis. The status of F. carvalhoi needs clarification but F. texensis and F. conepati are obviously conspecific with it. The egg and first-stage larva of F. martis are described.