Argulus

Argulus
Argulus coregoni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Ichthyostraca
Subclass: Branchiura
Order: Arguloida
Family: Argulidae
Genus: Argulus
Müller, 1785
Species

~140 species (see list)

Argulus is a genus of fish lice in the family Argulidae. There are about 140 accepted species in the genus Argulus.[1][2][3][4] They occur in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments.[1] They sit tightly against the host body,[5] this minimises risk of detachment. As juveniles, these species feed on mucous and skin cells of their host. With age they become blood feeders because the parasite moves from feeding on the fins to feeding on the body of the fish, causing the feeding change.[6] At least some species can have severe impacts on their host populations.[5]

Argulus japonicus
  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WoRMS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bugguide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Meehan, O.L. (1940). "A review of the parasitic Crustacea of the genus Argulus in the collections of the United States National Museum". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 88 (3087): 459–522. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.88-3087.459.
  6. ^ Hunt, R.; Cable, J. (August 2020). "Life in the fast lane: Temperature, density and host species impact survival and growth of the fish ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus". Journal of Thermal Biology. 92: 102687. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102687. PMID 32888555. S2CID 221502848.