| Polyopisthocotylea | |
|---|---|
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| Silhouettes of bodies of various polyopisthocotylean monogeneans | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Monogenea |
| Subclass: | Polyopisthocotylea |
| Orders | |
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See text | |
Polyopisthocotylea is a subclass of parasitic flatworms in the class Monogenea.
Classification
There are only two subclasses in the class Monogenea:
- Monopisthocotylea. The name means "a single posterior sucker" - the attachment organ (the haptor) is simple.
- Polyopisthocotylea. The name means "several posterior suckers" - the attachment organ (the haptor) is complex, with several clamps or suckers.
The subclass Polyopisthocotylea contains the four following orders:
- Order Chimaericolidea
- Order Diclybothriidea
- Order Lagarocotylidea
- Order Mazocraeidea
- Order Polystomatidea
Examples of species
- Microcotyle visa, one of the numerous species which are parasitic on gills of marine fish.
- Diplozoon paradoxum, famous for its perfect monogamy, with the two individuals of the pair fused together
- Lethacotyle vera, a parasite of the brassy trevally (Caranx papuensis), "the monogenean which lost its clamps"
- Polystoma integerrimum, a parasite of frogs which synchronises its breeding with that of its host
- Protocotyle euzetmaillardi, a parasite of the bigeyed sixgill shark Hexanchus nakamurai
- Chimaericola leptogaster, a parasite of the gills of the chimaera Chimaera monstrosa.
References
- ^ WoRMS (2023). Polyopisthocotylea. Accessed at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=119220 on 2023-12-21
- Yamaguti, S. (1963). Systema Helminthum Volume IV Monogenea and Aspidocotylea: John Wiley & Sons.
- Hayward, C. (2005). Monogenea Polyopisthocotylea (ectoparasitic flukes). In K. Rohde (Ed.), Marine Parasitology (pp. 55-63): CSIRO, Collingwood, Australia & CABI, Oxon, UK.