Family ALLODISCOCOTYLIDAE Tripathi, 1959

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Introduction

Tripathi (1959) named the family incorrectly after misspelling the genotype. Young (1968) emended the name to Allodiscocotylidae, referring to the family as 'asymmetrical'.

The Allodiscocotylidae are characterised by an asymmetrical body; haptor with 4 pairs of clamps and terminal lappet bearing 3 pairs of anchors. Each clamp provided with accessory sclerites and rib-like thickenings. Intestinal crura with side branches, may or may not extend into haptor. Testes numerous, in two or more intercaecal longitudinal rows in middle region of body. Cirrus armed or unarmed, may be enclosed in muscular sac. Genital pore ventral to oesophagus. Ovary elongate, protesticular. Genito-intestinal canal short, crossing ovary. Vagina present (Yamaguti, 1963).

Two genera are represented in Australia. They are gill parasites of marine teleosts.

Diagnosis References

Tripathi, Y.R. 1959. Monogenetic trematodes from fishes of India. Indian Journal of Helminthology 9: 1-149

General References

Tripathi, Y.R. 1959. Monogenetic trematodes from fishes of India. Indian Journal of Helminthology 9: 1-149

Yamaguti, S. 1963. Systema Helminthum. Volume IV. Monogenea and Aspidocotylea. New York : Interscience Div., John Wiley & Sons Inc. 699 pp. [190]

Yamaguti, S. 1963. Systema Helminthum. Volume IV. Monogenea and Aspidocotylea. New York : Interscience Div., John Wiley & Sons Inc. 699 pp.

Young, P.C. 1968. Two new species of the family Allodiscocotylidae Tripathi, 1959 (Monogenoidea) from the gills of Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier and Valenciennes, with a note on the distribution of Vallisiopsis australis sp. nov. Journal of Helminthology 42(3/4): 421-434

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