H. A. Baylis 
419 
sometimes present. Vulva usually in anterior region of body, rarely behind the 
middle. Vagina and uterus run posteriorly, the latter giving off either four or 
six parallel branches. 
Genotype: P. anoura Dujardin, 1845. (= Ascaris (P .) pythonis Retzius, 
of authors.) 
The species may be divided into two sections, according to the number of 
uterine branches, as follows: 
Section I. Forms with four-branched uterus. 
1 . Polydelphis anoura Duj., 1845. 
Ascaris ( Polydelphis) anoura Dujardin (1845), p. 221. 
Ascaris attenuata Molin, 1858, of Stossich (1896), p. 77 (in part). 
„ „ „ (J) of v. Linstow (1899), p. 6. 
„ pythonis Retzius, 1830, of Railliet and Henry (1910) (in part). 
,, ( Polydelphis ) pythonis (Retzius, 1830) of Gedoelst (1916), p 7. 
Length, male, up to 116 mm.; female, up to 144 mm. Thickness, male, 
2-15 mm.; female, 2-5-2-8 mm. Cuticular striations distinct, 4-10 /x apart. 
Body tapering in front, thick posteriorly. Lateral fields wide, more trans¬ 
parent than the rest of the cuticle. Lips small, rather longer than broad, nearly 
straight in front. Dorsal lip with two large double papillae; ventro-lateral lips 
each with one large double papilla towards the ventral side. Dentigerous ridges 
marginal, with minute teeth. Oesophagus 1 relatively long (10 mm.). No 
intestinal caecum. Tail of male blunt, 0-35 mm. long, with a small terminal 
spike. Spicules equal, conically pointed, 10*5 mm. long. Caudal papillae, two 
pairs postanal and 25 pairs preanal. Vulva at a little less than one-third of the 
total length from anterior end. Vagina passes gradually into the undivided 
portion of the uterus, which has a fusiform swelling about its middle. Length 
of this part of the uterus, together with vagina, about 30 mm. The four 
uterine branches relatively very short, originating in an oval swelling or 
reservoir, and running straight backward to end suddenly in narrow muscular 
canals about 3 mm. long. The latter are separated from the oviducts by 
globular or fusiform swellings. The four genital tubes bend forward soon after 
the termination of the uterine branches, the ovaries forming many coils about 
the intestine, and occupying the greater part of the posterior region of the body 
between vulva and anus. Ova nearly spherical, measuring 0-066-0*072 mm. 
in diameter. 
Hosts: Python molurus, P. sehae. Said also to occur in Bitis arietans , 
Drymobius bifossatus, [= Coluber lichtensteinii], Coluber corais, Zamenis con¬ 
strictor ■, ? Coronella [Ophibolus] sp. 
Geographical Range: India, Africa, ? America. 
1 Dujardin’s statement that the oesophagus is followed by a narrow ventriculus seems to be 
erroneous. 
