Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2009
The karyotype of Transversotrema patia1en consists of 10 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 20) of which 5 pairs are metacentrics and 5 pairs are submetacentrics. The chromosomes are large and range in size from 5 to 12 μm. The total chromosome length of the diploid complement is 16783 μm. Stages of spermatogenesis including the two gonial divisions and two reduction divisions leading to production of spermatozoa occur in cercarial embryos inside snail tissue, while the maturation divisions of the ovum occur in eggs freshly liberated by the fluke. The chiasma frequency is high, being 3888/cell and 388/bivalent. Cytological data indicate an independent phylogenetic status for the family Transversotrematidae.