Intraspecific Variation of Adult Telorchis bonnerensis (Trematoda: Telorchiidae) in Amphibian and Reptilian Hosts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Telorchis bonnerensis Waitz, 1960, previously reported from larval Ambystoma macrodactylum Baird, 1849, and Thamnophis sirtalis Linneaus, 1758, in Idaho, also parasitizes larval and adult A. tigrinum Green, 1825, in Iowa. This constitutes a new host record for the species. Additional experimental hosts for the adult stage include adult and larval A. tigrinum, and adult A. maculatum Shaw, 1802, young Pseudemys scripta elegans Wied, 1838, Chryiemys picta belli Gray, 1831, and Chelydra serpentina Linnaeus, 1758. Developmental rates of experimentally reared adult worms were most rapid in A. tigrinum and A. macrodactylum. In A. maculatum, development is markedly decreased. Among chelonians, development is most rapid in C. serpentina and least in P. s. elegans. The rearing of successive generations of adults in amphibians, then reptiles, and again in amphibians, results in a pronounced decrease in size and delayed development in the generation reared in reptiles. Resumption of normal size and developmental rate occurs when progeny are reared once again in amphibians. The great morphological variations of adult worms experimentally reared in amphibians and reptiles emphasize that criteria such as anterior extent of vitellaria, position of ovary, extent of cirrus sac, and comparative sizes of suckers are unreliable in delimiting species within the genus Telorchis.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: