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Order MAZOCRAEIDEA

Introduction

The order Mazocraeidea Bychowsky, 1937 is one of only three orders containing the Polyopisthcotylea that principally infect fishes. However, the Mazocraeidea following Boeger & Kritsky (1993) comprises the majority of polyopisthcotylean families at 27. Of these, 14 are represented in Australi.

The diversity of Mazocraeidea probably represents an enormous evolutionary radiation when bony fishes themselves underwent an evolutionary explosion. Mazocraeidea typically parasitise teleost gills and use haptoral 'clamps' (attachment devices of sclerite material forming a jaw-like clasping arrangement able to grasp gill filaments (Hayward, 2005).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
12-Feb-2010 (import)