The Life Cycle and Morphology of Tetracerasta Blepta, Gen. Et Sp. Nov., And Stegodexamene Callista, Sp. Nov. (Trematoda: Lepocreadiidae) From the Long-Finned Eel, Anguilla Reinhardtii Steindachner.

Abstract

Two new lepocreadiid digeneans, Tetracerasta blepta, gen. sp. nov., and Stegodexamene callista, sp. nov., are described from the intestine of the long-finned freshwater eel, Anguilla reinhardtii, in the Brisbane River, Queensland, and from the Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, in the Richmond River in New South Wales. Their life cycles have been elucidated and completed in the laboratory, by means of uninfected hosts. Both lepocreadiid species use the prosobranch gastropod, Posticobia brazieri, as their first intermediate host. Cercariae of T. blepta penetrate and encyst in the pharyngeal muscle, external muscle, and viscera of fishes in the genera Gobiomorphus and Hypseleotris, and in several species of tree frog tadpoles. The cercariae of S. callista are often eaten or accidentally inhaled by several small fishes, including Retropinna, Craterocephalus, Pseudomugiland Ambasszs, and encyst in the pharyngeal muscle and viscera. All developmental stages are described and illustrated.