''Telorchis'' is a genus of

trematode Trematoda is a Class (biology), class of flatworms known as flukes. They are obligate parasite, obligate internal Parasitism, parasites with a complex biological life cycle, life cycle requiring at least two Host_(biology), hosts. The intermedia ...

parasites found in many

herps Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians ( gymnophiona)) a ...

, comprising around 70 species. This

parasite Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted structurally to this way of lif ...

is an indirect parasite, with a snail intermediate host and a reptile or amphibian definitive

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places *Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County People * Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman * Michel Host ...

. Typically found in the gastrointestinal tract of their definitive host, telorchids attach to the wall of the intestinal tract with their ventral sucker, or

acetabulum The acetabulum (), also called the cotyloid cavity, is a concave surface of the pelvis. The head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint. Structure There are three bones of the ''os coxae'' (hip bone) tha ...

Morphology

Description of ''Telorchis'' from Wharton 1940: "Elongate, flat distomes with simple oral suckers. Oral and ventral suckers subequal. Pharynx present. Intestinal crura begin preacetabular and end near the

posterior Posterior may refer to: * Posterior (anatomy), the end of an organism opposite to its head ** Buttocks, as a euphemism * Posterior horn (disambiguation) * Posterior probability, the conditional probability that is assigned when the relevant evidenc ...

end of the body. Vitellaria

lateral Lateral is a geometric term of location which may refer to: Healthcare *Lateral (anatomy), an anatomical direction * Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle * Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap Phonetics *Lateral co ...

. Genital pore just

anterior Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

to the ventral sucker, usually somewhat to the left of the median line. Cirrus sac extends behind the acetabulum. Ovary posterior to or at the posterior level of

cirrus Cirrus may refer to: Science *Cirrus (biology), any of various thin, thread-like structures on the body of an animal *Cirrus (botany), a tendril * Infrared cirrus, in astronomy, filamentary structures seen in infrared light *Cirrus cloud, a typ ...

sac. Uterus with descending and ascending coils, does not extend behind the testes. Metraterm anterior to ovary and usually about half as long as cirrus sac. Laurer's canal present. Testes in tandem at the posterior end."

Species

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5014563 Parasites of reptiles Plagiorchiida Plagiorchiida genera