Telegamatrix Explained

Telegamatrix is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, belonging to the family Diplectanidae.^{[1] [2]} Species of Telegamatrix are parasitic on the gills of marine fish of the families Clupeidae and Leiognathidae.

In the original description of the type species and genus, Ramalingam (1955) ^[1] wrote: "It is seldom that an entirely novel animal is found, but Telegamatrix seems to be a unique example in evolution of what would appear to be an ideal copulatory arrangement for a sedentary hermaphrodite, whether animal or lower plant." Indeed, the genital apparatus of species of Telegamatrix include a spectacular "tentacle" as long as an adult (i.e. about 1 mm).^[1]

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species,^[2] the following species are included in the genus:

• Telegamatrix elegans Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1976 ^[3]
• Telegamatrix grandis Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1976 ^[3]
• Telegamatrix pellona Ramalingam, 1955 ^[1] (type species)
• Telegamatrix ramalingami Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1976 ^[3]

Notes and References

1. Ramalingam, K., 1955. A remarkable organism, Telegamatrix pellona gen. et sp. nov. (Monogenea: Diplectaninae) parasitic in an Indian herring. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Section B (1955) 42: 209-218. PDF
2. WoRMS (2018). Telegamatrix Ramalingum, 1955. Accessed at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=517981 on 2018-12-26
3. Bychowsky, B.E. & Nagibina, L.F. (1976) [New species of the genus ''Telegamatrix'' Ramalingam, 1955 (Monogenoidea, Diplectanidae)]. Biologiya Morya, Vladivostok, 2, 10–15. (In Russian).