''Cryptocotyle'' 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 ...

trematode Trematoda is a Class (biology), class of flatworms known as trematodes, and commonly as flukes. They are obligate parasite, obligate Endoparasites, internal parasites with a complex biological life cycle, life cycle requiring at least two Host ( ...

s from the family Heterophyidae. The

definitive host In biology and medicine, a host is a larger organism that harbours a smaller organism; whether a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist ''guest'' (symbiont). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include ...

s of the parasites are fish-eating

birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

and

mammals A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle e ...

. The metacercariae are visible in the skin of infected fish as "black spots".

Species

* ''

Cryptocotyle americana ''Cryptocotyle'' is a genus of trematodes from the family Heterophyidae. The definitive hosts of the parasites are fish-eating birds and mammals. The metacercariae are visible in the skin of infected fish as "black spots". Species * ''Cryptocot ...

'' Ciurea, 1924 * '' Cryptocotyle badamshini'' (Kurochkin, 1959) * '' Cryptocotyle concava'' (Creplin, 1825) * ''

Cryptocotyle cryptocotyloides ''Cryptocotyle'' is a genus of trematodes from the family Heterophyidae. The definitive hosts of the parasites are fish-eating birds and mammals. The metacercariae are visible in the skin of infected fish as "black spots". Species * ''Cryptocot ...

'' (Issaitschikow, 1923) * ''

Cryptocotyle delamurei ''Cryptocotyle'' is a genus of trematodes from the family Heterophyidae. The definitive hosts of the parasites are fish-eating birds and mammals. The metacercariae are visible in the skin of infected fish as "black spots". Species * ''Cryptoco ...

'' (Jurachno, 1987) * '' Cryptocotyle jejuna'' (Nicoll, 1907) * '' Cryptocotyle lingua'' (Creplin, 1825) * ''

Cryptocotyle macrorhinis ''Cryptocotyle'' is a genus of trematodes from the family Heterophyidae. The definitive hosts of the parasites are fish-eating birds and mammals. The metacercariae are visible in the skin of infected fish as "black spots". Species * ''Cryptoco ...

'' (MacCallum, 1916)

References

External links

* Plagiorchiida genera {{Trematoda-stub