Order CARYOPHYLLIDEA van Beneden in Carus, 1863

Caryoaustralis sprenti [from Mackiewicz & Blair, 1980]

© Copyright Ian Beveridge. Melbourne University.

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Introduction

Caryophyllideans are monozoic (unsegmented) cestodes with a distinct, though unspecialised and often highly malleable, scolex. The gonopore is ventral and is often in the posterior part of the body, with the uterus sharing the same opening as the vagina; the vitelline follicles are scattered in the pre-ovarian region and the egg is operculate (Mackiewicz 1994). Caryophyllideans are primarly intestinal parasites of cypriniform and siluriform freshwater fishes, although some genera develop progenetically in the body cavities of aquatic annelids. The life cycle involves development of a single larval stage in tubificid annelids (Mackiewicz 1972).

Although caryophyllideans widely distributed (Mackiewicz 1972), few taxa are known from Australian fishes. The systematic arrangement used here follows Mackiewicz (1994) who recognised four families, Balanotaeniidae Mackiewicz & Blair, 1978; Capingentidae Hunter, 1930; Caryophyllaeidae Leuckart, 1878; and Lytocestidae Hunter, 1927. Of these, only the Capingentinae is not represented in the Australian fauna.

General References

Mackiewicz, J.S. 1972. Parasitological review. Caryophyllidea (Cestoidea): a review. Experimental Parasitology 31: 417-512

Mackiewicz, J.S. 1994. Order Caryophyllidea van Beneden in Carus, 1863. pp. 21-43 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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