Diversity of Dilepididae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) revealed by cytogenetic analysis

Abstract

AbstractKaryotypes of three dilepidid species:Molluscotaenia crassiscolex,Anomotaenia bacilligeraandDilepis undula,which have not been recorded previously, were studied using conventional Giemsa staining and comparative karyometric analysis. Twelve small biarmed chromosomes were observed in mitotic cells ofM. crassiscolex, 16 biarmed chromosomes of gradually decreasing size were found in cells ofA. bacilligera, while 18 elements were characteristic forD. undula. These data, together with information available in literature, prove the heterogeneity and possible polyphyletic nature of the family Dilepididae.