Life history of Genarchopsis goppo Ozaki, 1925 (Trematoda: Hemiuridae) from the freshwater fish Channa punctata

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe life cycle of Genarchopsis goppo a hemiurid trematode found in the stomach of Channa punctata has been worked out in detail. The egg contains a fully developed miracidium at the time of liberation. The miracidium contains a ciliated covering, a long apical gland and a crown of spines at the anterior end. The snail Amnicola travancorica acts as the first intermediate host inside which the miracidium passes through sporocyst and redial generations. The cercaria is of cystophorous type and is identical to Cercariae Indicae Sewell XXXV. Metacercaria occurs in the ostracods Stenocypris malcolmsoni and Eucyoris capensis. The fish Aplocheilus panchax serves as the paratenic host. The entire developmental cycle from egg to egg producing adult takes 3 months.