Pseudorhabdosynochus justinei facts for kids

The grouper Epinephelus quoyanus is the host of P. justinei

Pseudorhabdosynochus justinei is a tiny worm that lives on the gills of a fish. This fish is called the longfin grouper (Epinephelus quoyanus). The worm is a type of monogenean, which means it's a parasite. Parasites live on or inside another living thing, called a host. Scientists first found and described this worm in 2007. They found it in the South China Sea. Later, in 2009, other scientists studied it again. They used worms found off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

What Pseudorhabdosynochus justinei Looks Like

Pseudorhabdosynochus justinei is a very small worm. It is only about 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters long. That's less than half a millimeter! It has a flat body, just like many other worms in its group.

This worm has a special part called a haptor. The haptor is at the back of its body. It helps the worm stick to the fish's gill. Think of it like a suction cup. The haptor has two special parts called squamodiscs. One squamodisc is on the top side. The other is on the bottom side. These help the worm hold on tight.

How it Got its Name

The scientists who first described this worm named it Pseudorhabdosynochus justinei. They named it after a French scientist named Jean-Lou Justine. They wanted to thank him for his help. He helped them figure out what made this worm special. He also did a lot of research on other worms like it.

Where it Lives and Who it Lives On

The main host for P. justinei is the longfin grouper. This fish is part of the grouper family. The first place this worm was found was in Dapeng Bay, China. This bay is in the South China Sea. So far, this is the only place in China where it has been found. The worm has also been found on the same type of fish near Heron Island. This island is off the coast of Queensland, Australia.