Four trematode cercariae from the New Zealand intertidal snail Zeacumantus subcarinatus (Batillariidae)

MARTORELLI, SERGIO R; FREDENSBORG, BL; LEUNG TOMMY LF; POULIN, ROBERT

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

The Royal Society of New Zealand

Lugar: Hamilton, New Zealand; Año: 2008 p. 73 - 84

0301-4223

Abstract  Four new trematode cercariae are described from the intertidal snail Zeacumantus subcarinatus: a distome xiphidiocercaria assigned to the genus Renicola (family Renicolidae); a monostome xiphidiocercaria belonging either to the genus Microphallus or Megalophallus (family Microphallidae); a magnacercous cercaria of the genus Galactosomum (family Heterophyidae); and a cercaria of the genus Philophthalmus (family Philophthalmidae). The morphological features of the new cercariae are compared to previously described cercariae of the same genera. In addition, since the philophthalmid cercaria encysts readily on artificial substrates in the laboratory, the metacercaria of this species is also described. These cercariae are part of a diverse community of at least 6 digenean species parasitizing the snail Z. subcarinatus that, together, have a major impact on the ecology and evolution of this snail.   Keywords: Cercariae; Heterophyidae; Microphallidae; Philophthalmidae; Renicolidae; parasites; trematodes; Zeacumantus subcarinatus