Family DIOECOCESTIDAE Southwell, 1930
Introduction
The Dioecococestidae are a small family of dioecious cyclophyllidean cestodes in which the vaginal opening is typically absent. They are characteristically parasites of charadriiform and podicepediform birds (Jones 1994). Two subfamilies are currently recognised, the Dioecocestinae Southwell, 1930 in which male genitalia are paired and the uterus is a transverse tube, and the Gyrocoeliinae Yamaguti, 1959 in which the male genitalia are single and the uterus is ring- or horseshoe-shaped (Jones 1994).
Both subfamilies are cosmopolitan and both are represented in Australian birds.
General References
Jones, A. 1994. Family Dioecocestidae Southwell, 1930. pp. 391-398 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.