The life cycle of Podocotyle enophrysi Park, 1937 (Trematoda: Opecoelidae)

Abstract

Cotylocercous cercariae developing in sporocysts in the snail, Lacuna marmorata Dall, were used to infect amphipods, Hyale plumulosa Stimpson. The infected amphipods were then fed to sculpins, Oligocottus maculosus Girard, from which 25 trematodes were recovered 6–45 days later. Development of the worms to adults was followed with worms becoming ovigerous after 25 days; they were identified as Podocotyle enophrysi. Descriptions of the larval stages are similar to that of Podocotyle atomon (Rudolphi, 1802) Odhner, 1905.