Family CALCEOSTOMATIDAE Parona & Perugia, 1890

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Introduction

The Calceostomatidae are characterised as follows: Head ususally expanded into paired head lobes or a hood or cup-like lobe. Haptor sucker-like, though not strongly muscular, usually armed with paired anchors, occasionally provided with two suckers and a median terminal anchor complex; marginal hooklets usually present, occasionally modified. Intestinal crura with or without diverticula, united posteriorly or not. Testes posterior to ovary or overlapping it, single or divided into a numberof follicles. Seminal vesicle formed by dilatation of vas deferens. Prostatic complex present. Cirrus with or without accessory piece. Ovary compact, lobed or tubular. Vagina present, occasionally absent. Vitellaria co-extensive with intestine. Parasites of marine and freshwater fishes (Yamaguti 1963).

In Australia the Calceostomatidae are represented by two species from different genera.

General References

Yamaguti, S. 1963. Systema Helminthum. Volume IV. Monogenea and Aspidocotylea. New York : Interscience Div., John Wiley & Sons Inc. 699 pp.

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