Syn.: Gynæcophorus, Dies., 1858; Bilharzia, Cobb., 1859; Thecosoma, Moq. Tandon, 1860.
Fig. 171.—Schistosoma hæmatobium, Bil.: male carrying the female in the canalis gynæcophorus. 12/1. (After Looss.)
Fig. 172.—Transverse section through a pair of Schistosoma hæmatobium in copulâ. In the male the point of reunion of the intestinal forks has been cut across. (After Leuckart.)
The males have bodies that widen out considerably behind the ventral sucker, the lateral parts of which in-roll ventrally, forming the almost completely closed canalis gynæcophorus, within which the female is enclosed. There is no cirrus pouch. The male has five or six testes, the females are filiform; the uterus is long. There is no Laurer’s canal. The ova almost equally attenuated at either extremity; they have a small terminal spine, and are not provided with a lid. They contain a miracidium, ciliated on all sides, which is characterized by the possession of two large glandular cells, which discharge anteriorly beside the gastric sac. They live in the vascular system of mammals. (An allied genus [Bilharziella] lives in the blood-vessels of birds.)
Schistosoma hæmatobium, Bilharz, 1852.
Syn.: Distoma hæmatobium, Bilh.; Distoma capense, Harley, 1864.