parasitic marsh rice rat florida occurring mainly adults inhabits stomach common wet season unknown intermediate host emerges rains worm discovered formally described originally classified genus reclassified small narrow bodied length females males similar species differ features organs male size female texture eggs taxonomy discovered survey florida marsh rice rats new parasite species study previous comprehensive studies species described worm paper specific honors described species large difficult genus suggested closest small species live digestive systems mammals similar found variety north_america europe placed number related species separate genus transferred species genus species known description small narrow bodied worm increases width length cuticle surface layer smooth females long averaging makes substantially longer female average wide eggs smooth lacking elaborate pattern surface seen long broad digestive system long lined cells known located end near end worm rounded males half long females maximum width length muscular makes lined region worm long opening digestive tube located near end worm length near end ridges sides long located small tip lateral longer reach tip structure functions reproduction curved tip hardened length smaller similar north american larger north american european small long lacks curved tip distribution ecology marsh rice rats florida yielded type locality animals examined infected average worms single rat contained worm worms found stomach ends tissue ends projecting inside significant difference rate infection males females juveniles infected compared adults species occur multiple hosts found marsh rice rat small mammals round tailed cotton mouse cotton rat marsh rabbit occur rice rat eats animal food intermediate host eaten species markedly prevalent wet season spring dry season autumn rainfall patterns influence habits rice rat way possibility intermediate host worm moves surface rains
Aonchotheca forresteri