Microcotyle arripis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Microcotyle arripis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Platyhelminthes
Class:	Monogenea
Order:	Mazocraeidea
Family:	Microcotylidae
Genus:	Microcotyle
Species:	M. arripis
Binomial name
Microcotyle arripis Sandars, 1945
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Microcotyle arripis is a tiny species of monogenean, a type of flatworm. It is a parasite that lives on the gills of marine fish. This small worm belongs to a group of parasites called the Microcotylidae family.

What is Microcotyle arripis?

Microcotyle arripis is a type of monogenean, which are small, flat worms. These worms are parasites, meaning they live on or inside another animal, called a host, and get their food from it. Microcotyle arripis specifically lives on the gills of fish.

How Was It Discovered?

This tiny worm was first described by a scientist named Sandars in 1945. Sandars studied 51 samples of the worm. These samples were found on the gills of a fish called the Australian herring. This fish, also known as Arripis georgianus, was caught off the coast of Western Australia. Other scientists have also studied and drawn this worm since then.

What Does It Look Like?

Microcotyle arripis has a long, thin body that is symmetrical. This means both sides of its body are the same. It is wider in the middle and gets narrower at both ends. The front part of its body holds most of its important organs. The back part is called the haptor.

The haptor is a special part that helps the worm hold on. It has 35 pairs of tiny clamps, arranged in two rows. These clamps act like little grippers. They help the worm attach firmly to the fish's gill. At the very front of the worm, there are two small mouth suckers. These suckers help it to feed.

Inside the worm, there is a mouth at the front. It also has a muscular tube called a pharynx near its mouth suckers. A tube called an oesophagus branches into two main parts. These parts then form a intestine with many smaller branches. These branches help the worm digest its food. Each adult worm has both male and female reproductive organs.

Where Does It Live?

The Australian herring is a host for Microcotyle arripis.

The main fish that Microcotyle arripis lives on is the Australian herring. This fish is scientifically known as Arripis georgianus. The first place where this worm was found was off the coast of Western Australia. Scientists have also found this worm in other places and on other types of fish.