''Furcohaptor'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
monopisthocotylea
The Monopisthocotylea are an inferior class of parasitic flatworms in the class Monogenea.WoRMS (2019). Monopisthocotylea. Accessed at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=119219 on 2019-02-08
Yamaguti, S. (1963). Systema Helmi ...
n
monogenea
Monogeneans, members of the class Monogenea, are a group of ectoparasitic flatworms commonly found on the skin, gills, or fins of fish. They have a direct lifecycle and do not require an intermediate host. Adults are hermaphrodites, meaning they ...
ns, belonging to the family
Diplectanidae
The Diplectanidae are a family of monopisthocotylean monogeneans. They are all parasitic on the gills of fish (marine or freshwater). Diplectanids are small animals, generally around 1 mm in length. As parasites, they can be extremely numero ...
.
[WoRMS (2018). Furcohaptor Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996. Accessed at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=717363 on 2018-09-16] All known species are parasitic on the
gills
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
of
tonguefish (family
Cynoglossidae).
Members of the genus ''Furcohaptor'' have a
haptor
The haptor is the attachment organ of the monogeneans, a group of parasitic Platyhelminthes.
The haptor is sometimes called opisthaptor (from ''opistho-'': behind) to emphasize that it is located in the posterior part of the body, and to diffe ...
with atypical structure (two long haptoral arms, one pair of typical anchors, one pair of rod-shaped hooks, five pairs of typical-shaped marginal hooks, and one pair of marginal hooks which are reduced in size)
and the genus was originally placed in the family
Ancyrocephalidae
Ancyrocephalidae is a family of monogenean flatworms.WoRMS (2018). Ancyrocephalidae Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1968. Accessed at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160481 on 2018-08-09 The family is considered as a "temporary name" in ...
,
but a study based on morphology and molecules demonstrated in 2017 that it was a member of the
Diplectanidae
The Diplectanidae are a family of monopisthocotylean monogeneans. They are all parasitic on the gills of fish (marine or freshwater). Diplectanids are small animals, generally around 1 mm in length. As parasites, they can be extremely numero ...
.
Etymology
The generic name, ''Furcohaptor'', is in reference to the specimens' bifurcate haptors.
Species
According to the World Register of Marine Species, the valid species included in the genus are:
* ''
Furcohaptor brevis''
Nitta & Nagasawa, 2017
* ''
Furcohaptor cynoglossi''
Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q56642173
Diplectanidae
Monogenea genera