310 
A NEW SPECIES OF CESTODE {OOCHORISTICA 
ERIN AC El) FROM THE HEDGEHOG. 
By F. J. MEGGITT, M.Sc., Ph.D., 
Assistant Helminthologist, University of Birmingham. 
{From the Research Laboratory in Agricultural Zoology , 
University of Birmingham.) 
(With Plate XVII, Figs. 12-13.) 
A number of Cestodes collected from a hedgehog in Mesopotamia by Dr 
Bonlenger were handed to me for identification. Examination showed them 
to belong to the genus Oochoristica. Five Cestodes [Hymenolepis erinacei 
(Gm.), Hymenolepis steudeneri v. Janicki, Davainea parva v. Janicki, Taenia 
voluta v. Linstow, and a Bothriocephalus larva v. Janicki] have up to the 
present been recorded from this host. From all these, the present species is 
distinguished by its possession of numerous testes, situated posteriorly to the 
female organs. I therefore propose to form a new species for its reception and 
suggest for it the name Oochoristica erinacei. The key attached to the following 
description will serve to distinguish this new species from others of the same 
genus. I wish here to express my indebtedness to Dr Boulenger for placing 
his material at my disposal. 
The length of the largest specimen is 15 mm. and the width 1 mm. The 
scolex (Pl. XVII, fig. 12) is 0-33 mm. diameter, provided with four suckers 
0-165 mm. long x 0-12 mm. broad, arranged in pairs, the members of each 
pair having their margins touching and being widely separated from the 
opposite pair. Anteriorly each sucker has a small opening leading to a slight 
furrow on the apex of the scolex, the whole having a similar appearance to 
that figured by Cohn (1903, p. 61, Text-fig. 6) for 0. surinamensis. There is 
neither rostellum nor hooks. A neck is absent, segmentation starting im¬ 
mediately posteriorly to the suckers. 
As figured by Beddard for 0. marmosae (1914, Text-fig. 149) the strobilus 
swells out into a collar immediately posteriorly to the scolex. The muscu¬ 
lature consists of an inner layer of transverse muscles, externally a layer of 
comparatively strong longitudinal ones, and externally to those a very weak 
layer of scattered fibres, only present in the more anterior segments and 
disappearing in those with fully developed genital organs. 
