Order PROTEOCEPHALIDEA Mola, 1928
Ophiotaenia hylae [from De Chambrier, 2004]
© Copyright Ian Beveridge. Melbourne University.
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Order PROTEOCEPHALIDEA Mola, 1928
Compiler and date details
06 January 2005
Introduction
Proteocephalidean cestodes are characterised by a scolex with four suckers and in some species an apical sucker or rostellum is present. Genital pores are lateral with the vagina entering the pore posterior to the cirrus sac. The ovary is in the posterior part of the segment and the vitelline follicles are scattered in two lateral bands. A central tubular uterus is present. Adult cestodes in this group are found in freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles (Rego 1994).
Rego (1994) recognised two families, Proteocephalidae La Rue, 1911 with medullary vitelline follicles and Monticelliidae La Rue, 1911 with cortical vitelline follicles. Only the Proteocephalidae are present in Australia.
General References
Rego, A.A. 1994. Order Proteocephalidea Mola, 1928. pp. 257-293 in Khalil, L.F., Jones, A. & Bray, R.A. (eds). Keys to the Cestode Parasites of Vertebrates. Wallingford, UK : Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux International