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 numerous, up to several thousand on an individual fish.
The family Diplectanidae was proposed by the Italian parasitologist Monticelli in 1903 (as subfamily Diplectaninae).[1] The status of the family and its components was later examined by various authors, including Johnston & Tiegs (1922),[2] Price (1937),[3] Bychowsky (1957),[4] Yamaguti (1963),[5] and Oliver (1987).[6]
Diplectanids are diagnosed by the combination of these three characters:
The genera recognized in WoRMS [7] are:
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 numerous, up to several thousand on an individual fish.