Family Pachypsolidae Yamaguti, 1958

Abstract

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Pachypsolidae Yamaguti, 1958 contains only the type-genus, within which are a few species found in the digestive tract of marine chelonians and freshwater crocodilians. It is characterized by the presence of four to six anteriorly or laterally directed diverticula arising from the anterior portions of the caeca. Rudolphi (1819) described Distoma irroratum Rudolphi, 1819 from a sea turtle,identified as Testudo midas, from the Adriatic Sea (see Blair & Limpus, 1982). Looss (1901b) placed the species within his new genus Pachypsolus Looss, 1901. Pratt (1902b) placed Pachypsolus as one of several 'related genera' close to members of his 'new' subfamily Plagiorchiinae Looss, 1901 in the family Fasciolidae Railliet, 1895. Many subsequent authors have accepted that Pachypsolus has plagiorchiid affinities, although there was not always agreement on which family and subfamily were most appropriate for the genus.