Microcotyle pentapodi facts for kids

Microcotyle pentapodi is a tiny worm-like creature that lives on the gills of marine fish. It is a type of monogenean, which means it is a parasite that spends its entire life on just one host. This little animal belongs to a family of parasites known as Microcotylidae.

What is Microcotyle pentapodi?

Scientists give every living thing a special name, just like we have first and last names. Microcotyle pentapodi was first found and described in Australia. It was living on the gills of a fish called Pentapodus milii. For a while, scientists thought it belonged to a different group called Paramicrocotyle. But after more study, they decided it fit better back in the Microcotyle group. So, Paramicrocotyle is now seen as an older, less used name for this type of parasite.

How Microcotyle pentapodi Looks

Microcotyle pentapodi has a body shape similar to other Microcotyle species. It has a small, long, and thin body. The front part of its body holds most of its important organs. The back part is called a haptor.

The haptor is a special part that helps the parasite hold on. It has many clamps arranged in two rows, one on each side. These clamps are very important because they help the parasite stick firmly to the gill of the fish. At the very front of its body, it also has two suckers that are divided into sections.

Inside its body, it has a mouth at the front, a throat (called a pharynx), and a tube (called an oesophagus) that leads to its stomach area. It also has an intestine that branches out into many smaller parts. Like many animals, each adult Microcotyle pentapodi has both male and female reproductive organs.

Where the Name Comes From

The name pentapodi comes from the name of the fish it lives on, which is Pentapodus milii. This is how scientists often name new species, by using part of the host's name.

Where It Lives

The main host fish for Microcotyle pentapodi is Pentapodus milii. This parasite was first found off the coast of Australia.