Life Cycle
First intermediate host are ram's horn snails. Second intermediate host are fish and larval amphibians including frogs and salamanders. Inside of amphibians, cercariae are attracted to limb bud regions where the hind limbs form. As a result, large numbers of metacercariae encyst near base of the hind legs. Definitive host are predators such as hawks, herons, ducks, and badgers.
The abundance of the teratogenic trematode Ribeiroia ondatre has been found to increase in eutrophic (nutrient rich) waters.
Read more about this topic: Ribeiroia Ondatrae
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