Microcotyle bassensis facts for kids

Microcotyle bassensis is a tiny species of monogenean. These are a type of parasite that lives on fish. This particular parasite makes its home on the gills of marine fish. It belongs to a group of parasites called the Microcotylidae family.

About Microcotyle bassensis

Microcotyle bassensis was first discovered and described in 1931 by a scientist named Florence Murray. Later, other scientists like Woolcock (in 1936) and Dillon (in 1985) studied it more closely. They added more details to its description.

For a while, some scientists thought this parasite should be in a different group. Caballero & Bravo-Hollis moved it to the genus Paramicrocotyle. They called it Paramicrocotyle bassensis. However, another scientist named Mamaev later put it back into the Microcotyle group. He decided that Paramicrocotyle was actually the same as Microcotyle.

Scientists have also studied the DNA of Microcotyle bassensis. They have published information about its ITS2 rDNA gene. This helps us understand how it is related to other living things.

Where Does This Parasite Live?

The Southern sand flathead is a main host for Microcotyle bassensis.

The flathead Platycephalus haackei (now Platycephalus richardsoni) also hosts this parasite.

Microcotyle bassensis likes to live on certain types of fish. Its main host is the Southern sand flathead, which is a fish with the scientific name Platycephalus bassensis. This fish belongs to the Platycephalidae family.

This parasite has also been found on other fish from the same family. These include the bluespotted flathead (Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus) and another type of flathead called Platycephalus haackei. The fish known as Platycephalus haackei is now called Platycephalus richardsoni. It has also been found on other Platycephalus fish that were not specifically identified.

The first time Microcotyle bassensis was found was in fish caught near Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, in Australia. It has been found in the same area again since then.