| Cichlidogyrus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cichlidogyrus philander | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Monogenea |
| Order: | Dactylogyridea |
| Family: | Ancyrocephalidae |
| Genus: | Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 [1] |
Cichlidogyrus is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans in the family Ancyrocephalidae. The type-species of the genus is Cichlidogyrus arthracanthus Paperna, 1960, by original designation. [1] All the species of the genus are parasites on the gills of fish, namely African Cichlidae, Nandidae and Cyprinodontidae. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Species of Cichlidogyrus are parasitic in many cichlid species in the Lake Tanganyika; a recent study (2016) has shown that species which are parasite on deep-water fish show reduced parasite-host specificity in comparison to species from littoral waters, probably an adaptation to low host availability. [9]
According to Antoine Pariselle and Louis Euzet, 71 species of Cichlidogyrus were known in 2009 [3] - new species have been described since. Nikol Kmentová, Milan Gelnar, Stephan Koblmüller and Maarten P.M. Vanhove estimated that the number of species was more than 100 in 2016 [10] and Chahrazed Rahmouni, Maarten P. M. Vanhove and Andrea Šimková listed 111 species in 2017. [11]
Species of Cichlidogyrus have been introduced in various parts of the world, as alien species, where their hosts, particularly tilapia, have been introduced. [12]
