Bothriocephalidea Kuchta, Scholz, Brabec & Bray 2008

Key to the freshwater bothriocephalideans from Africa

In order to facilitate identification of bothriocephalidean cestodes found in the freshwater fish in Africa, a simple key based on gross morphology is provided.

1 Apical part of scolex unarmed (without hooks).............................................................. 2

- Apical part of scolex armed (with hooks)................................................................... 3

2 Scolex heart-shaped, with deep, narrow bothria; external segmentation present............. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi

- Scolex elongate to lanceolate, with shallow and wide bothria; external segmentation absent....... Ichthybothrium ichthybori

3 Scolex large (> 700 μm); vitelline follicles cortical, numerous; testes numerous (> 30, usually more than 100); eggs with hard shell (capsule)........................................................................................ 4

- Scolex small (<650 μm); vitelline follicles medullary; testes few (5–20); eggs with transparent, hyaline outer envelope.... 5

4 Apical disc prominent, wider than scolex, armed with <36 large, massive hooks, up to 190 μm long; cirrus-sac small (ratio of cirrus-sac width to width of segment 5–10%)......................................... Polyonchobothrium polypteri

- Apical disc weakly developed, as wide as scolex or narrower, armed with> 40 hooks shorter than 90 μm; cirrus-sac large (ratio of cirrus-sac width to width of segment 16–39%)............................................. Kirstenella gordoni

5 Small worms (<30 mm in total length), with almost cylindrical strobila (widely oval to spherical in cross section); <than 35 small hooks (<51 μm) on apical disc.................................................... Tetracampos ciliotheca

- Large worms (total length up to 190 mm), with dorsoventrally flattened strobila;> than 36 hooks on apical disc, hooks large, up to 100 μm long.................................................................... Tetracampos martinae