![\"Steven](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sac-news-events\/files\/2020\/01\/profile-300x300.jpg\")
During the time that the toad was in Steven\u2019s care, he noticed something usual about the toad\u2019s faecal pellets. They contained what looked like little beansprouts: recognising that these were in fact parasites, Steven fixed them in ethanol before seeking expert advice for identification as to what they were. After contacting all of the relevant experts that he could find online, the worms were eventually sent to the Natural History Museum for analysis. The worms were with Eileen Harris<\/a>, Senior Curator of Parasitic Worms, for some time before they made a trip to Australia.<\/p>\n The reason behind this journey Down Under was that Eileen was certain that what Steven had found was a new species, but needed confirmation from a colleague, Lesley Smales. It was through Lesley\u2019s expertise and detective work that it was finally confirmed that the worms Steven had collected back in 2015 were indeed a new species, over three years later.<\/p>\n After that news, the team worked to produce a formal description for this new species which was recently published in the Journal of Helminthology<\/a>. The new species was given the scientific name of Pseudoacanthocephalus goodmani<\/em>, honouring Steven\u2019s friend and colleague Mark Goodman, who also aided in the care and maintenance of the toad whilst she was in their care.<\/p>\n Not only is this an excellent example of international collaboration, but the case also highlights that you should always expect the unexpected, especially when dealing with stowaways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"