The black-spot (Uvulifer ambloplitis: Trematoda: Strigeoidea) of centrarchid fishes

Adult Uvulifer ambloplitis were recovered from a kingfisher and the worm eggs were incubated. Helisoma snails were infected with the resultant miracidia. Cercariae, very similar, but not identical to Cercaria bessiae, were recovered and used to infect fish. It was possible to infect Lepomis macrochirus, but not Catostomus commersoni, Cottus bairdi, Carassius auratus, Notropis cornutus, N. rubellus, N. spectrunculus, Semotilus atromaculatus, S. corporalis, S. margarita, Ictalurus punctatus, Etheostoma flabellare or Salmo gairdneri.

Development of the metacercaria was studied at 13° C, 21° C, and 24° C. There was almost no development at 13° C and development was about twice as rapid at 24° C as at 21° C. The origin of the cyst of parasite origin is discussed. The metacercariae live at least 4 1/2 years in the fish at 12° C. The adult is briefly described and compared with other species. A key to the adults is given.