Family CAPSALIDAE Baird, 1853
- Capsalidae Yamaguti, S. 1963. Systema Helminthum. Volume IV. Monogenea and Aspidocotylea. New York : Interscience Div., John Wiley & Sons Inc. 699 pp. [sensu Yamaguti, 1963].
Introduction
The Capsalidae are monogeneans parasitising mostly 'skin', fins and gills of marine fishes. Some capsalids are pathogenic to cultivated fish and a few have caused epizootic events. It is a cosmopolitan family with broad host associations with elasmobranchs and teleosts (including sturgeons). Approximately 180 capsalid species are placed in nine subfamilies and 44–46 genera, some of which are well known —Benedenia, Capsala, Entobdella, Neobenedenia. Sturgeons host two capsalid species (Nitzschiinae), and 15 species in five genera are reliably reported from elasmobranchs.
The combination of ancient (shark, ray) and modern (teleost) host fish lineages indicates that capsalid evolution is probably a blend of coevolution and host-switching, but a family phylogeny has been lacking due to insufficient knowledge about homologies (Whittington 2004).
Of nine capsalid subfamilies worldwide, six are reported from Australia. Species in Interniloculinae Suriano & Beverley-Burton, 1979, Nitzschiinae Johnston, 1931 (restricted to sturgeons) and Pseudonitzchiinae Yamaguti, 1965, are absent. The current classification for the Capsalidae is not based on a comprehensive phylogeny, which is a major obstacle (Whittington 2004).
Diagnosis References
Whittington, I.D. 2004. The Capsalidae (Monogenea: Monopisthocotylea): a review of diversity, classification and phylogeny with a note about species complexes. Folia Parasitologica. Prague 51: 109-122
General References
Whittington, I.D. 2004. The Capsalidae (Monogenea: Monopisthocotylea): a review of diversity, classification and phylogeny with a note about species complexes. Folia Parasitologica. Prague 51: 109-122 [109]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-Jul-2016 | MODIFIED |