Body of medium size. Scolex with sucker-like rostellum (sometimes rudimentary). Rostellar hooks in 2 rows, rarely in 1 row or lacking. Genital pores unilateral or alternating. Single set of male and female reproductive organs per proglottid. Testes usually not numerous (rarely exceeding 20). Ovary bilobed or oval, compact or slightly lobate. Vitellarium compact or slightly lobate, near posterior margin of proglottid. Uterus dorsal to ovary, sac-like, uterine wall sometimes forming deep diverticula. Proglottid morphology is very similar to that of the Dilepididae, and they were considered as members of the latter family for many years; however, metadilepidids differ from dilepidids in their possession of a sucker-like rostellar apparatus and in the dorsal position of the uterus in relation to the ovary. Unlike paruterinids, metadilepidids lack paruterine organs.
Ten genera and 15 species.
Closely related to the Paruterinidae and Taeniidae.
Non-aquatic birds (Coraciiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Passeriformes).
Small intestine.
Mainly in the tropics, only 2 genera known from temperate latitudes, namely Skrjabinoporus and Metadilepis.
Unknown.
Selected References:
Kornyushin, V. V. and B. B. Georgiev. 1994. Family Metadilepididae Spasskii, 1959. pp. 585-593. In Khalil, L. F., Jones, A., Bray, R. A. (Eds.) Keys to the cestode parasites of vertebrates. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K.
Georgiev, B. B. and C. Vaucher. 2003. Revision of the Metadilepididae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) from Caprimulgiformes. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 110: 491-532. PDF
Taxon Coordinator:
Dr. Boyko B. Georgiev
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2 Gagarin Street
1113 Sofia
Bulgaria
E-MAIL: boyko_georgiev@yahoo.com
