The Early Development of Contracaecum osculatum

Abstract

1. Eggs of Contracaecum osculatum, extracted from grey seal faeces, have been hatched in the laboratory at different temperatures and the morphology and behaviour of the larvae described.2. Artificial exsheathment of the second stage larva from the first stage cuticle has been demonstrated.3. In attempting to establish the first intermediate host of the life cycle, two species of harpacticoid copepods have been successfully infected but no significant developments reported.