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Sculptures by Phyllis Bone

CLASS MONOGENEA


Monogeneans are usually ectoparasites on the skin and gills of fish. The mouth may be equipped with a sucker. Monogeneans also have a posterior attachment organ armed with suckers and hooks called a haptor. The life cycle involves only one host, for the adult. New hosts are located and infected by free-living larvae.


Clockwise from top left :

Monopisthocotylea entobdellae from a sole,
Polyopisthocotylea polystoma from a frog,
Gyrodactylus sp.,
Diplozoon paradoxum from fish.