A REDESCRIPTION OF PARADILEPIS (OLIGORCHIS) LONGIVAGINOSUS (Mayhew, 1925), WITH NOTES ON THE PAST INCERTITUDE CONCERNING THIS SPECIES

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a redescription of Paradilepis logiv aginosus . In P. longivaginosus , there is a double crown of 28 rostellar hooks, the 14 large hooks (0.124–0.131 mm) alternating with 14 small hooks. It appears that this tapeworm without doubt belongs in the genus Paradilepis , based upon the combination of a double crown of hooks, absence of external seminal vesicle, and presence of a highly convoluted vas deferens. Ironically, the specific name may be a misnomer based upon mistaken identity of the long, convoluted vas deferens. A further point relates to the peculiar rugate structure of the vagina that is strikingly similar to that described for P. rugovaginosus Freeman, 1954. Freeman outlined that the latter species could be distinguished from all others in the genus by the rugate vagina, but that premise must now be modified.