Juvenile Precocity and Maintenance of Juvenile Features in the Males of the Pentastome Kiricephalus pattoni (Stephens, 1908) Sambon, 1922 |
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| Authors: | M V John A M Nadakal |
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| Institution: | Department of Zoology , Mar Ivanios College , Trivandrum , 695 015 , Kerala , India |
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| Abstract: | Summary Male nymphs of the pentastome Kiricephalus pattoni become sexually mature in the second intermediate host, the water snake Tropidonotus piscator. Pairing of male and female nymphs, and sperm transfer, occur at the same stage. Males (but not females) retain nymphal characters within the definitive host, the rat snake Ptyas mucosus. |
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| Keywords: | juvenile precocity Kiricephalus pattoni |
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