Ophiotaenia europaea (Cestoidea : Proteocephalidae)‎ from water snake, Natrix tessellata in Iraq

Abstract EN

A proteocephalid cestode, Ophiotaenia europaea was reeovred for the first time from an Iraqi snake, Natrix tessellata.

All the body dimensions of this worm were found to be smaller than those reported from the same or different snake host in Europe and USSR.

Therefore a new subspecies was errected and designated as Ophiotaenia europaea minuta.

This subspecies in characrized by its smaller size, smaller body dimensions especially the cirrus pouch in addition to a relatively fewer uterine divertic-ulae in gravid segments.