title: [Morphological variability and the structure of pre-reproductive age group of the cestode Proteocephalus torulosus from Altai osman (Oreoleuciscus, Cyprinidae) in water bodies of Mongolia].
abstract: Morphological variability of immature Proteocephalus torulosus was studied for the first time. On the basis of scolex shape, three phenotypes were distinguished: clavate, rounded, and lanceolate. The clavate phenotype was found to be dominant, the rounded one is small in number, and the lanceolate one is rare. The wide ranges of morphometric variability were established. The clavate phenotype differs from the rounded one by its higher variability. The high morphologic variability of immature P. torulosus is comparable to that in adult mature parasites from Altai osman, the Central Asian endemic from the genus Oreoleuciscus. The conclusion is made on the influence of extremely changeable environmental condition in the region on the parasite and host adaptations during their co-evolution.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Anikieva
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lebedeva
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mensajhan
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002589:Cestoda / Q000502:physiology*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008986:Mongolia