Talk:Bucephalus (flatworm)

A fact from Bucephalus (flatworm) appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 25 February 2011 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that the name Bucephalus, meaning "ox head", was given to a genus of trematodes because their cercaria larva (pictured) seemed to have horns?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2011/February.

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The ox-head reference from Manter[edit]

The ox-head quote is based on text in a pdf that is 11.5 M. In case others have a problem downloading the whole thing from the internet, here is what Manter says on page 333:

The genus Bucephalus possesses a ventrally directed sucker with definite
radial muscles, aperture, and cuplike cavity together with a crown of retractile processes known as fimbriae or tentacles. These curious appendages, conspicuous when extended but very inconspicuous when retracted, have come to be the characteristic feature of the genus, varying in number and form in different species. When extended, they often resemble horns. It is a curious circumstance that the generic name Bucephalus (= ox head), given to the cercaria because of the hornlike appearance of the furcae of the tail, should prove to be appropriate for the
adult because of entirely different structures.

It is an interesting observation and very well-written, so I would hate for others to miss a chance to read it. Sharktopus^talk 04:08, 22 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]