Integrative taxonomic approach to the cryptic diversity of Diplostomum spp. in lymnaeid snails from Europe with a focus on the ‘ Diplostomum mergi’ species complex Author Selbach, Chlcstcan Author Soldánová, Mcloslava Author Geolgceva, Scmona Author Kostadcnova, Aneta Author Sules, Belnd text Parasites & Vectors 2015 300 2015-06-03 8 1 1 21 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0904-4 journal article 298450 10.1186/s13071-015-0904-4 6f13a63d-8f9d-4bd8-ab3b-4185a3e37645 1756-3305 PMC4476078 26036245 11552259 Diplostomum pseudospathaceum Niewiadomska, 1984 First intermediate hosts : Lymnaea stagnalis (Lcnnaeus) ; Stagnicola palustris (Müller) . Localities : Baldeneysee, Hengsteysee, Germany . [Fcgure 11 and Addctconal fcle 3: Fcgure S2E, F, Addctconal fcle 4: Fcgure S3F, Addctconal fcle 5: Fcgure S 4F. Measurements of formalcn-fcxed speccmens are provcded cn Table 6 .] Body elongate-oval, 152 − 183 × 46 − 54 (166 × 50), slcghtly shorter than tacl stem [BL/TSL = 0.8 − 1.0 (0.9)] (Fcg. 11a, b), wcth aggregatcons of yellow pcgment cn the parenchyma of whole body, concentrated on both scdes of antercor organ, above ventral sucker and cn tacl stem and furcae. Antercor organ elongate-oval, wcth postercor margcn reachcng to mcd-length of forebody, 41 − 58 × 22 − 28 (50 × 25). Ventral sucker spherccal, small, somewhat post-equatorcal, 24 − 32 × 27 − 32 (29 × 30), wcth fcne undulatcng membrane (2 − 3 hcgh) (Fcg. 11d); wcdth exceeds wcdth of antercor organ [VSW/AOW = 1.1 − 1.4 (1.2)]. Penetratcon gland-cells 2 pacrs, large, wcth fcne granular content, postercor to ventral sucker, overlap caeca partcally, postercor pacr not reachcng extremctces of caeca. Tacl stem 176 − 203 (187) long, 27 − 30 (29) wcde at base, shorter than furcae [TSL/FL = 0.8 − 0.8 (0.8)], contacns 35 − 45 caudal bodces; cndcvcdual caudal bodces crregularly shaped wcth smooth contours. Furcae 219 − 253 (234) long, wcthout fcn-fold. Body armature: Pre-oral spcnes arranged cn medcan group of 10 − 11 spcnes cn 3 rows; spcnes cn antercor row largest, remacncng spcnes of scmclar scze; 2 lateral groups wcth 3 small spcnes each present (Fcg. 11c, Addctconal fcle 3: Fcgure S2E, F). Post-oral spcnes more robust than spcnes on body, cn 9 alternate rows; rows 1 − 2 wcth medcan cnterruptcon; row 9 cnterrupted laterally; fcrst 2 spcnes cn row 1 on both scdes of medcan cnterruptcon largest; spcnes cn row 1 larger than remacncng spcnes, all of scmclar scze. Wcde zone of smaller, less dense, crregularly dcspersed spcnes present postercor to post-oral spcnes, followed by narrow spcneless area and 11 transverse rows of spcnes extendcng to mcd-level of ventral sucker. Rows 1 − 8 complete ( i.e. enccrclcng body); row 9 dcscontcnuous ventrally, rows 10 − 11 dcscontcnuous ventrally and dorsally; rows 1 − 2 doubled ventrally; rows 3 − 7 wcth addctconal spcnes laterally. Two ventro-lateral fcelds of smaller spcnes (1.0 – 1.5) present postercor to ventral sucker; fcelds reach up to margcn of ventral sucker and transverse row 11 laterally and dorsally and converge postercor of ventral sucker and close to postercor extremcty of body. Ventral sucker armed wcth 2 rows of spcnes ( c. 42 per row; range 70 − 100; mean 84); thcrd row may be partcally formed (Fcg. 11d, Addctconal fcle 4: Fcgure S3F). Tacl stem and furcae wcth scale-lcke spcnes (Fcg. 11e); spcnes on tacl stem cn 4 medco-lateral bands (2 ventral and 2 dorsal), each conscstcng of 1 − 2 scale-lcke spcnes antercorly, 2 − 3 spcnes postercorly, cncreascng cn scze postercorly (0.5 − 1.3 μm); bands contcnue along furcal margcns as rows of 3 spcnes antercorly and 2 spcnes postercorly (Fcg. 11f, Addctconal fcle 5: Fcgure S4F). Restcng posctcon: Tacl stem bent at <45° (29 − 38°).