Family POLYSTOMATIDAE Gamble, 1896

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Introduction

Polystomatidae Carus, 1863, emended Gamble, 1896

The family is characterised as follows: Body elongate or somewhat pyriform, tapering anteriorly with discoid haptor bearing three pairs of cup-like suckers, as well as 10 to 16 marginal hooklets, which may not persist after larval stage. Two large hooks or anchors may lie between posterior pair of suckers. Mouth more or less terminal, surrounded by 'oral sucker' and opening into a muscular pharynx. Intestine bifurcated, caeca with or without diverticula and often united posteriorly. Genital pore median, situated in region of intestinal bifurcation. Copulatory organ provided with crown of small spines. One or two testes, entire or reticulate. Ovary compact, usually lying in front of testes. Vitellaria follicular. Pair of vaginal apertures, when present, situated antero-laterally.

Polystomatids are parasitic on skin and gills of lung-fish, in mouth, pharynx, oesophagus and urinary bladder of amphibians and chelonian reptiles, and on eyes of hippopotamus (Prudhoe & Bray 1982).

General References

Prudhoe, S. & Bray, R.A. 1982. Platyhelminth Parasites of the Amphibia. Oxford : Oxford University Press 217 pp.

History of changes