Aquatic Parasite Observatory

Actinocleidus fergusoni

Species Name: Actinocleidus fergusoni (Mueller, 1937)
Synonyms: None
Taxonomy: Animalia, Platyhelminthes, Monogenea, Dactylogyrida, Ancyrocephalidae, Actinocleidus fergusoni
Life Cycle: The A. fergusoni species have a direct life cycle. Hermaphroditic adults of the Ancyrocephalidae family are attached to the gills of fish and produce eggs that are expelled into the water column and attach or mucus or organic material. From here, the eggs hatch and the larvae attach to a new host and develop into the adult phase (Reed et al., 2012).
Description:
Adult as described by Mueller, 1937:
2. Body small, anterior with cephalic lobes; head ordans present; cephalic glands in two groups in anterolateral region; two pairs of eye spots present. Haptor more or less distinct, with 14 marginal hooks, 12 peripheral and two central; two pairs of anchors present, both projecting ventrally; transverse bars acrticulating to form single supporting unit. Marginal hooks of similar size and shape, except the hooks of pair II have smaller handle. Copulatory complex comprising of sclerotized, tubular cirrus with inflated base and heavily sclerotized accessoru piece with distal, fingerlike prijection and begid base. Vagina sclerotized or not, opening on left side of body, leading to seminal receptacle. Vitellaria coextensive with intestine, extending laterally to body margin. Parasites on the gills of centrarchids.

Sources: Reed, P., Francis-Floyd, R., Klinger, R., and Petty, D. 2012. Monogenean Parasites of Fish. University of Florida IFAS extension. EDIS. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa033. Accessed Jan. 15 2016.
APO Parasite Records: (by Life Cycle)

Adult