Cercaria kuntzi n. sp. parasitic to Oncomelania hupensis formosana is described from Taiwan. It has a continuous dorso-ventral finfold on the tail and is biocellate, the left eyespot being double which becomes apparent when pressed. The cercariae penetrated the tadpoles of Rana latouchi and became mature metacercariae in a month. The metacercariae excysted and survived for 2 weeks in a species of Natrix snake without growth or differentiation, but this suggests that its final hosts are probably poikilothermic vertebrates. It has a diploid chromosome number of 14 consisting of 7 homologous pairs. Possible benefit of chromosomal information in the classification of cercariae is discussed.
Trematoda, Cercaria kuntzi n. sp., Oncomelania hupensis formosana, Chromosome number, Cercaria
