218 MANTER 



of ovary. Eggs spindle-shaped, 0.148 to 0.203 by 0.056 to 0.074 mm, 

 with a long polar filament at each end. Length of filament variable but, 

 unless broken off or clearly abnormal, at least several times the length of 

 the egg. Eggs not connected by their filaments. 



Excretory pores near edges of body slightly anterior to the atrial pore. 



Discussion: The status of the generic name Squalonchocotyle Cer- 

 fontaine, 1899, is disputed and much in doubt. It is pre-dated by Erpo- 

 cotyle Beneden and Hesse, 1863, and Price (1942), although noting that 

 E. laevis, the type of the genus, could not be identified from its original 

 description, concluded from circumstantial evidence (identity of host 

 species, locality and distribution of vitellaria) that S. vulgaris is a 

 synonym of E. laevis. In that case, the name Squalonchocotyle is a 

 synonym of Erpocotyle. Sproston (1946, p. 361) and Brinkmann (1952, 

 p. 80) disagree with this conclusion and consider Erpocotyle laevis as 

 "gen. and sp. inq." or no?nen nudum. They retain the well defined Squal- 

 onchocotyle of Cerfontaine. Erpocotyle might eventually be established as 

 the valid name for this genus, but the long usage of Squalonchocotyle and 

 its retention by Sproston and Brinkmann lead to its use here. The ex- 

 tension of vitellaria into the appendix, although not indicated by early 

 descriptions, does appear to be a valid generic character as proposed by 

 Price. The genus Neoerpocotyle Price, 1942, includes species with vitel- 

 laria extending into the appendix. 



S. callorhynchi differs from most species of the genus in lacking a 

 seminal receptacle. Brinkmann (1942, p. 90) reports this organ lacking 

 in S. abbreviata (Olsson, 1876) Cerfontaine, 1899, although Dollfus 

 (1937) shows it present in that species. S. abbreviata differs from S. 

 callorhynchi in the more anterior extent of vitellaria, the very short 

 genito-intestinal canal, non-papillated oral sucker, vaginal pores near 

 midbody line, and appendix hooks 75 /.i long (rather than about 57 ii). 



S. canis Cerfontaine, 1899, appears to be the most closely related 

 species. It agrees in such characters as body size, papillated oral sucker 

 and haptoral suckers, and flange around the opening of the haptoral 

 suckers. However, the vaginal pores are at about the same level as the 

 atrial pore, a seminal receptacle is present (Cerfontaine 1899, p. 444, 

 p. 450), the egg is about 100 [.l in length rather than nearly 200 [x, and 

 the appendix hook has a more abrupt curve. C. canis is from Galeus canis 

 off the coast of France. 



S. torpedinis is not very completely described. As compared with S. 

 callorhynchi, it has a much larger oral sucker and short vaginae. 



