Gyrocotyle

This photo shows the entire body of a single Gyrocotyle. It is a large worm, about 4-5 cm long. The anterior end is at the top and possesses a large acetabulum. There is no gut. At the posterior end is a highly folded rosette, used for attachment to the intestine of the host. The uterus is the dark oval mass in the centre of the body. Note the highly folded margins of the body. The folding is a feature of this species that is not typical of all cestodarians.