Furcohaptor Explained

Furcohaptor is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, belonging to the family Diplectanidae.^{[1] [2]} All known species are parasitic on the gills of tonguefish (family Cynoglossidae).

Members of the genus Furcohaptor have a haptor 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)^[1] and the genus was originally placed in the family Ancyrocephalidae,^[1] but a study based on morphology and molecules demonstrated in 2017 that it was a member of the Diplectanidae.^[3]

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:^[2]

• Furcohaptor brevis Nitta & Nagasawa, 2017 ^[3]
• Furcohaptor cynoglossi Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996 ^[1]

Notes and References

1. Bijukumar. A.. Kearn. G. C.. Furcohaptor cynoglossi n. g., n. sp., an ancyrocephaline monogenean gill parasite with a bifurcate haptor and a note on its adhesive attitude. Systematic Parasitology. 34. 1. 1996. 71–76. 0165-5752. 10.1007/BF01531213. 28717414 .
2. WoRMS (2018). Furcohaptor Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996. Accessed at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=717363 on 2018-09-16
3. Nitta. Masato. Nagasawa. Kazuya. A new species of Furcohaptor Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) parasitic on Cynoglossus robustus Günther (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae) in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, with comments on its systematic position and an amended generic diagnosis of Furcohaptor. Systematic Parasitology. 94. 8. 2017. 907–913. 0165-5752. 10.1007/s11230-017-9747-z. 28828706. 2610160 .