Family GASTROCOTYLIDAE Price, 1943

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Introduction

The Gastrcotylidae aer characterised as follows: Haptor symmetrical or asymmetrical, extending along body proper at posterior extremity. Clamps symmetrical in structure, with accessory sclerites; rib-like thickenings of capsule wall present or absent; terminal anchors usually present. Prehaptoral hooks absent except in Pricea. Intestinal crura with diverticula, may or may not extend into haptor, united posteriorly or not. Testes variable in number, usually postovarian, exceptionally more extensive. Cirrus and/or gentical atrium spined or unspined. ovary tubular and curved, exceptionally compact. Receptaculum seminis present or absent. Genito-intestinal canal present. Eggs filamented at each pole. Vagina present. Vitellaria usually co-extensive with intestinal crura, ocasionally confined to haptoral region (Yamaguti, 1963).

The monogenean life-cycle is direct. Bychowsky & Nagibina (1967) reported that the larvae of two gastrocotylids, Pricea multae and Gotocotyla sp. (now within the family Gotocotylidae) settled on the gills of non-specific small fishes that are prey for the predatory large specific hosts of the adults. However, this notion of an intermediate host in the monogenean life-cycle has not been substantiated.

General References

Bychowsky, B.E. & Nagibina, L.F. 1967. On "intermediate" hosts of monogeneids (Monogenoidea). Parazitologiya 1(2): 117-124 [in Russian]

Yamaguti, S. 1963. Systema Helminthum. Volume IV. Monogenea and Aspidocotylea. New York : Interscience Div., John Wiley & Sons Inc. 699 pp. [272]

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