Cotylogaster occidentalis

Aspidogaster conchicola and Cotylogaster occidentalis are parasites that live in the pericardial cavity of freshwater clams.Cotylogaster occidentalis is present in Manitoba. The clam is the only host involved in the life cycle of these parasites. Development involves the gradual change from embryo to adult through the gradual transformation of digestive and reproductive systems as well as the gradual elaboration of the ventral adhesive disc. Eggs may be transferred between clams via water currents and the siphon of the clam. On occasion this parasite may be encountered in the stomach of turtles, presumably a result of eating an infected clam. Your slide box contains specimens of Asipdogaster conchicola mostly in lateral view.

Structures you should be able to identify include the oral sucker, the ventral adhesive disc with loculi separated by septa, pharynx, intestine, uterus, testis and ovary.

Aspidogaster conchicola

Cotylogaster occidentalis

Cotylogaster occidentalis posterior end

Cotylogaster occidentalis ventral adhesive disc

	Main Index
Previous		Next
	Platyhelminth Index