title: Anatomical studies of sibling species within neotropical lymnaeids, snail intermediate hosts of fascioliasis.
abstract: Several anatomical parameters of the reproductive system have been used to distinguish Lymnaea cubensis from L. viatrix, the snail hosts of fascioliasis in South America and the Caribbean area. Three samples have been collected in the type localities of L. cubensis (Cuba), L. viatrix var. A ventricosa (Argentina, Río Negro Lower Valley), and L. viatrix var. B elongata (Peru, Lima), respectively. Only one parameter, the relative lengths of the penis sheath and preputium, showed significant differences between L. viatrix var. ventricosa and the two other taxa. None of the studied parameters separated L. cubensis from L. viatrix var. elongata.
authors.affiliation: Ecosystèmes Aquatiques Tropicaux et Méditerranéens, EPHE, Université, UMR 5555 du CNRS, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan, France. pointier@univ-perp.fr
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pointier
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Salas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arenas
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bargues
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mas-Coma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004199:Disease Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000635:transmission; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male