Global InformationRibeiroia ondatrae information
| Ribeiroia ondatrae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Trematoda |
| Order: | Plagiorchiida |
| Family: | Psilostomatidae |
| Genus: | Ribeiroia |
| Species: | R. ondatrae
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| Binomial name | |
| Ribeiroia ondatrae (Price, 1931)
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| Synonyms | |
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Ribeiroia ondatrae, or the frog-mutating flatworm is a parasite in the genus Ribeiroia which is believed to be responsible for many of the recent increases in amphibian limb malformations, particularly missing, malformed, and additional hind legs.
It was first reported from livers of Ondatra, hence its specific name.[1] In recent studies, it was found that in areas infected with R. ondatrae, the population of amphibian limb malformations was much higher than populations in which this trematode was not present. Each species studied showed varying results. For example, amphibians of species Pseudacris regilla, Rana aurora and Taricha torosa were found to physically display a higher frequency in the number of abnormalities.[2]
The exact mechanism of deformation has not been determined but it has been theorized that deformation results from mechanical disruption of the cells involved in limb bud formation during the amphibian larval stage.
- ^ Price, E. W. (1931). "Four new species of trematode worms from the muskrat, Ondatra zibethica, with a key to the trematode parasites of the muskrat". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 79 (4): 2870. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.79-2870.1.
- ^ Johnson, Pieter T. J.; Lunde, Kevin B.; Thurman, E. Michael; Ritchie, Euan G.; Wray, Simon N.; Sutherland, Daniel R.; Kapfer, Joshua M.; Frest, Terrence J.; Bowerman, Jay; Blaustein, Andrew R. (2002). "Parasite (Ribeiroia Ondatrae) Infection Linked to Amphibian Malformations in the Western United States". Ecological Monographs. 72 (2): 151–168. doi:10.1890/0012-9615(2002)072[0151:PROILT]2.0.CO;2.