Proteocephalus adult

The photo on the left is the scolex. There are four well-developed suckers for attachment to the host.

Adult worms are usually 10-30 cm long. The photo on the right is of four mature proglottids. At the posterior margin of the proglottid (bottom) is a dark red, bilobed ovary. The lateral bands or dark spots are the vitellaria. On the margins of the proglottids, alternating irregularly, are the genital pores, with a prominent cirrus pouch proceeding medially from the genital pore. Almost filling the centre of each proglottid is the uterus (its lobed margin can bee seen clearly in the topmost complete proglottid), filled with small, dark red eggs. In some areas where the eggs have not obscured them, the testes can be seen as larger, less-intensely-staining circles.

Soon, the eggs will fill these proglottids and the other structures will degenerate. The gravid proglottids will then detach and pass in the host's feces.