Life cycle ofAustrobilharzia terrigalensisJohnston, 1917

Abstract

1. The life cycle ofAustrobilharzia terrigalensisJohnston, 1917 is described. The larval stages occur inPyrazus australis, a common mollusc on sand flats of estuaries and coastal lagoons in New South Wales.2.Austrobilharzia terrigalensiswas originally described from the seagull,Larus novae-hollandiae. Experimental infections have been successful in young gulls of this species and in the budgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusand the pigeonColumba livia.3. Under experimental conditions the cercariae will cause dermatitis, and cases of dermatitis resembling cercarial dermatitis have been reported after bathing in Narrabeen Lagoon, where about 4 % ofPyrazus australiscarry forktail cercariae.4. The cercaria was described previously (Bearup, 1955) asCercaria variglandissubspeciespyrazi, new subspecies. Now that the adult form has been identified as a previously described species the subspecific namepyrazilapses.