- Ribeiroia ondatrae
Taxobox
name = "Ribeiroia ondatrae"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Platyhelminthes
classis =Trematoda
ordo =Echinostomida
familia =Cathaemasiidae
genus = "Ribeiroia"
species = "R. ondatrae"
binomial = "Ribeiroia ondatrae"
binomial_authority = Looss, 1907"Ribeiroia ondatrae" is a parasite in the class
Trematoda , PhylumPlatyhelminthes , believed to be responsible for most of the recent increase in frog deformities, particularly missing or extra hind legs. Exact mechanism of deformation has not been determined but it has been theorized that deformation results from mechanical disruption of the cells involved in limb bud formation during the amphibian larval stage.Life Cycle
First intermediate host are planorbid snails.Second intermediate host are fish and larval amphibians including frogs and salamanders.Inside of amphibians, cercariae are attracted to region where hind limbs are formed and large numbers of metacercariae encyst near base of the hind legs.Definitive host are predators such as hawks, herons and badgers.
References
*Roberts, Larry and Janovy, John (2005). "Foundations of Parasitology" seventh edition. New York, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
* Johnson, P. T. J., K. B. Lunde, E. G. Ritchie, and A. E. Launer. 1999. The Effect of Trematode Infection on Amphibian Limb Development and Survivorship. Science 284: 802-804
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