Family MICROCOTYLIDAE Taschenberg, 1879

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Introduction

The Microcotylidae are characterised as follows: Haptor symmetrical or asymmetrical; all clamps with uniform skeleton though different in size; middle piece without accessory sclerites. Terminal anchors absent. Intestinal crura usually not confluent posteriorly. Testes numerous, postovarian. Cirrus pouch usually absent, present occasionally. Cirrus and/or genital atrium usually armed. Eggs usually filamented. Vagina present, with middorsal or lateral opening, ocasionally absent. Parasties of marine teleosts (Yanaguti 1963).

According to Hayward (2005) there is evidence that a species of Microcotyle has low host specificity based on matching DNA sequence data and indistinguishable morphological characters.

Eleven genera incorporating 28 species are represented in Australia.

General References

Hayward, C. 2005. Monogenea Polyopisthocotylea (ectoparastic flukes). pp. 55-63 in Rohde, K. (ed.). Marine Parasitology. Collingwood, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 592 pp.

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

Yamaguti, S. 1963. Systema Helminthum. Volume IV. Monogenea and Aspidocotylea. New York : Interscience Div., John Wiley & Sons Inc. 699 pp. [238]

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