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Tasmanian Temnocephalidea

Hickman, VV 1967 , 'Tasmanian Temnocephalidea' , Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, vol. 101 , pp. 227-252 .

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Abstract

W. A. Haswell has described from Tasmania three
species of Temnocephala, namely, T. quadricornis,
T. tasmanica and T. aurantiaca. The descriptions
are very brief. In the present paper they have been
amplified. In addition three new species, T. cita
and T. tulva from Parastacoides tasmanicus· (Erichson)
and T. pygmaea from A.stacopsis gouldi
(Clark), are described. Observations on the eggs,
period of incubation, rate of growth and survival
apart from the hosts are given. At ordinary temperatures
the eggs of T. cita hatch in 67 days, T.
tasmanica in 35-70 days, T. quadricornis in more
than 196 days, T. pygmaea in 31-32 days, T. aurantiaca
in more than 56 days and T. tulva in mme
than 60 days. The times taken to reach adult size
by those speci-es, which were hatched in che
laboratory and reared apart from their hosts. are
as follows: T. tasmanica 233 days, T. pygmaea 152
days and T. aurantiaca 117 days. In the case of
T. quadricornis the rate of growth is such that
adult size should be attained in about 190 days.
Most of the species, when removed from the host
and kept under laboratory conditions, exhibit
marked powers of survival. Thus specimenc of
T. tasmanica have lived for 707 days, T. quadricornis
76 days, T. pygmaea 59 days, T. aurantiaca
245 days. Young specimens hatched in the
laboratory adapt themselves to the conditions more
readily and often survive much longer than those
removed from the host. Even in the absence of
adequate aeration and food some species survive
for lengthy periods. Thus, for example, an adult
specimen of T. tasmanica placed in 3.0 ml. of water
in a small tube, which was .then firmly corked, lived
for 100 days. T. aurantiaca treated in the same
way lived for 70 days. During the period the
animals decreased from adult size to that of a
newly hatched specimen.

Item Type: Article
Authors/Creators:Hickman, VV
Keywords: Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemens Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology, geology, geography, papers & proceedings, Australia, UTAS Library
Journal or Publication Title: Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN: 0080-4703
Collections: Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:

Copyright Royal Society of Tasmania

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