Family CATHETOCEPHALIDAE Dailey & Overstreet, 1973

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Introduction

This highly distinctive family is readily identifiable by the scolex which is a transverse, fleshy organ lacking bothridia. The apical surface is highly rugose with fleshy papilliform projections on the leading and trailing edges. The posterior surface is smooth, with a central transverse fold extending its entire width (Euzet 1994).

Only two species have been described within the single genus found in this family: the multistrobilate species C. thatcheri Dailey & Overstreet, 1973 from the Gulf of Mexico, and C. australis Schmidt & Beveridge, 1990 from the east coast of Australia, in which a single strobila is attached to each scolex.

General References

Euzet, L. 1994. Order Lecanicephalidea Wardle & McLeod, 1952. pp. 195-204 in Khalil, L.F., Jones, A. & Bray, R.A. (eds). Keys to the Cestode Parasites of Vertebrates. Wallingford, UK : Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux International 751 pp.

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