LIFE CYCLES OF CESTODES OF THE ORDER CYCLOPHYLLIDEA VAN BENEDEN IN BRAUN, 1900

Abstract

A compilation of data on life cycles of cestodes structured into 6 suborders basing on our own data and literature analysis is given for the first time. It is established that world fauna of Cyclophyllidea currently consists of 1381 species life cycles of many of which are studied but poorly. Data from literature and our own studies shows that life cycles of Cyclophyllidea include two or sometimes three hosts: a definitive one, an intermediate one and sometimes additional (or second intermediate) one. As a result, characteristics of the life cycles and role of the specific definitive and intermediate hosts have been established for each Cyclophyllidea suborder. E.g., the suborder Acoleata's definitive hosts are birds connected to water environment, the intermediate ones are dragonfly larvae, for suborder Anoplocephalata definitive hosts are mammals, reptiles, rarely birds, intermediate ones are Oribatidae ticks, Psocoptera, for suborder Davaineata definitive ones are birds (mainly land ones), mammals (rodents, rarely humans), intermediate ones are worms, mollusks, arthropods, for Hymenolepidata definitive hosts are birds (mainly aquatic ones), mammals, intermediate ones are water invertebrates: crustaceans, rarely oligochaetes, mollusks and land mammals, for Mesocestoidata definitive hosts are carnivorous mammals and birds, intermediate ones are amphibia, reptiles, birds, mammals, for Taeniata definitive hosts are carnivorous mammals, birds, humans, intermediate ones are various vertebrates. Taking into account their great number of species, character and broad area of distribution, it is certain that this group of parasites is at the state of biological progress.