18G 



MEMOlllS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



HELMINTHOLOGICAL NOTES. 



By T. Harvey Johnston, M.A., D.Sc, C.M.Z.S., 



Hon. Zoologist Queensland Museum ; 



Walter & Eliza Hall Fellow in Economic Biology, University of Queensland. 



OPHIOTiENIA LONGMANI, n. sp. 



(Text -figures 1-18.) 



Somewhat macerated individuals of this new species of tapeworm were 

 taken by i\Ir. II. A. Longman, of the Queensland Museum, from a preserved 

 specimen of Aspidiotes ranisayi, a python captured at Yeulba in Western Queens- 

 land. In addition to the cestode, the intestine was found to contain a large species 

 of Ascaris, while the lungs were parasitised by a few specimens of Porocephalus. 



The longest of the tapeworms measures 9-4 mm. and possesses a maximum 

 breadth of almost one millimetre. The scolex has a width of about -8 mm. and 

 is nearly square in section, its dorsoventral diameter being about -65 nnu. It is 

 well marked off from the rest of the strobila. Its broadest part is situated 



Fig. 1. — View of scolex of Ophiotcenia longmani. 



Fig. 2. — Side view, showing apical depression, also lateral groove between the suckers. 



anteriorly, (Figs. 1, 2.) The suckers are so placed that they face forwards 

 and at times slightly inwards. As the apical region is quite small and scarcely, 

 if at all, projects beyond the suckers, the front of the scolex is rather flat and 

 rectangular, reminding one of the appearance of the scolex of 0. punica Cholodk. 

 (La Rue 191-4, pi. 13, fig. 153.) The suckers are prominent, strongly muscular, 

 slightly petiolate organs, and, as already stated, their cavities are directed 

 anteriorly. There is a well-marked furrow between the suckers dorsally, later- 

 ally and ventrally, the dorsal and ventral grooves being longer than the lateral 

 furrows, the former two terminating in the anterior neck region, while the 



