118 
Queensland Trematodes 
Family Dierocoeliidae. 
Sub-Family Dierocoeliinae. 
Platynotrema biliosum n. g., n. sp. 
(Plate YII, figs. 8-10.) 
From the gall-bladder of a stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) 
about a dozen specimens of a large and beautiful Dicrocoeliid were 
obtained. A few not fully mature specimens were also obtained from 
the gall-bladder of a white ibis (Ibis molucca). It is a moderately flat 
species, with oval outline and pointed ends. The length is 3‘3 to 4 - 7 mm. 
and the maximum breadth at the middle of the body, T8 to 2'2 mm. 
On an average the length is almost double the breadth. The cuticle 
is extremely thin and is studded all over with closely set scaly plates 
with a crescentic border much resembling reptilian scales in their 
somewhat irregular size and arrangement. These give the edges of 
the body a distinctly serrated appearance. In section these scales 
bear a very close resemblance to ordinary spines. Frequently they 
appear finely pointed ; others again are blunt and irregular. They 
stain very deeply with haematoxylin but they readily lose the stain 
again. 
In life the animal presents a brilliantly variegated appearance 
owing to the variations in the colour of the very highly developed 
uterus and the unusual prominence of the testes and yolk glands. 
The oral sucker, which is sub-terminal and globular has a diameter 
of 055 to 0 - 64 mm. The ventral sucker is somewhat larger and inclined 
to be elongated transversely. Its longitudinal diameter is 0 - 7 to 0*8 mm., 
but the transverse diameter may approach 0 - 9 mm. Its average mean 
diameter is 0'76 mm. in a specimen 4*1 mm. long. The average 
diameter of the oral sucker is 0 - 61 mm. which gives a sucker ratio of 
approximately 4 : 5, but the variation is considerable. The ventral 
sucker is situated at a distance of l - 4 to 2'0 mm. (i.e. three-sevenths 
of the body length) from the anterior end. 
The musculature of the suckers is very poorly developed as is indeed 
that of the body generally. In the suckers the radial fibres are very 
much reduced both in size and in number, while the bulk of the sucker 
is composed of loose spongy tissue. The sub-cuticular musculature 
also appears to be very feeble, the individual fibres being difficult 
to distinguish. The general body tissue is extremely spongy. 
