Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2009
The plerocercoid of Callitetrarhynchus gracilis was found in the body cavity of 14 species of fishes from Bermuda. The scolex, having completed its development, continues to grow within the blastocyst. The two mobile bothridia possess lateral grooves containing backwardly directed spines. Rapid evagination of the proboscides is effected by two layers of contra-rotating spiral muscles in the walls of the proboscis bulbs. The proboscis retractor is protected from constriction, during contraction of the bulbs, by a rigid ring at the junction of bulb and sheath. Nine series of extrinsic muscles anchor the proboscis sheaths to the body wall and a ladder-like series of dorsal, ventral and lateral muscles anchors the bulbs to one another. The bulbar nerves arise from the lateral nerve cords and are joined by a series of central ring commissures along the length of the bulbs. Uniciliate sensilla occur on the scolex and glandular cells in the peduncle.