''Microcotyle donavini'' is a species of monogenean, parasitic on the gills of a marine fish. It belongs to the family Microcotylidae.

Taxonomy

''Microcotyle donavini'' was described by Van Beneden & Hesse in 1863.Van Beneden, P. J., & Hesse, C. E. (1863). Recherches sur les Bdellodes (Hirudinées) et les trématodes marins: Mémoire présenté à l'Académie Royale de Belgique. Mémoires de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, 34, 1-150 + Plates. This species was redescribed by Scott (1905) who gave one figure Scott (T.), 1905. — Observations on some parasites new or rare in Scottish waters. 23, rd. Rep. Fish. Bd. Scot. (3) Sci. Invest. p. 108-119 fig. and by

Euzet Euzet (; oc, Euset) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Gard department This is a list of the 351 Communes of France, communes of the Gard Departments of France, department of France. ...

& Marc in 1963, one hundred years later. ''Microcotyle donavini'' is the type-species of the genus ''

Microcotyle ''Microcotyle'' is a genus which belongs to the phylum Platyhelminthes and class Monogenea. Species of ''Microcotyle'' are ectoparasites that affect their host by attaching themselves as larvae on the gills of the fish and grow into adult stage ...

''. Unnithan (1971) placed ''M. donavini'' in the nominal subgenus ''Microcotyle'' as ''Microcotyle (Microcotyle) donavini''.Unnithan, R. V. (1971). On the functional morphology of a new fauna of Monogenoidea on fishes from Trivandrum and environs. Part IV. Microcotylidae sensu stricto and its repartition into subsidiary taxa. American Midland Naturalist, 366-398. However, this species was returned to the genus ''

'' by Mamaev in 1986. Mamaev, Y. L. (1986). The taxonomical composition of the family Microcotylidae Taschenberg, 1879 (Monogenea). Folia Parasitologica, 33, 199-206
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Morphology

''Microcotyle donavini'' has the general morphology of all species of ''

'', with a symmetrical body, comprising an anterior part which contains most organs and a posterior part called the haptor. The haptor is symmetrical, and bears 86 clamps, arranged as two rows, one on each side. The clamps of the haptor attach the animal to the gill of the fish. There are also two buccal oval suckers, septated, located at the anterior extremity. The digestive organs include an anterior, terminal mouth, a pharynx, an oesophagus and a posterior

intestine The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans ...

with two lateral branches provided with numerous secondary branches. Each adult contains male and female reproductive organs. The reproductive organs include an anterior oval genital atrium, armed with numerous small spines, a medio-dorsal vagina opening at 750 µm from the anterior extremity, a single

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

and 18-22 oval testes which are posterior to the ovary. The eggs are fusiform, with a filament at each pole; one is short and thick.

Hosts and localities

The host-type is '' Labrus bergylta''. The type-locality is off Brest, France.

Gallery

Drawings of various organs or stages of ''Microcotyle donavini'', by

& Marc, 1963. Microcotyle donavini (Microcotylidae) Atrium (Euzet & Marc).png, Section of genital atrium Microcotyle donavini (Microcotylidae) Clamps (Euzet & Marc).png, Clamp Microcotyle donavini (Microcotylidae) Oncomiracidium & Egg (Euzet & Marc).png, Oncomiracidium & egg Microcotyle donavini (Microcotylidae) Lappet (Euzet & Marc).png, Lappet at extremity of haptor

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3941250 Microcotylidae Parasites of fish Animals described in 1863 Fauna of France