Abstract
Cercariae and metacercariae of Meiogymnophallus strigatus (M. V. Lebour, 1908) have been found in some places along the coast of Camargue (South of France). Sporocysts and cercariae are parasites of Tellina tenuis. Metacercariae occur in various Bivalves, mainly in Donax trunculus and D. semistriatus. Cercariae and metacercariae are described. Relationship between cercariae and metacercariae is demonstrated. Metacercarial microhabitat is delimited. Reaction of D. trunculus in front of the metacercarial infection is studied. Some metacercariae are free-living in the extrapallial space, between the mantle and the shell. These larvae have an advanced genital maturity. Most of the metacercariae are massed together and are enclosed by the host's epithelium. Their excretory vesicle, which is packed with blackish granules, almost fills the entire body. Attempts to infect laboratory reared birds by feeding metacercariae from Donax trunculus were not successful. The natural final host is unknown. In consideration of the metacercarial anatomy, Cercaria strigata M. V. Lebour, 1908 is placed in the genus Meiogymnophallus H. L. Ching, 1965.
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