The Mesozoa are minuscule, worm-like parasites of marine invertebrates. Generally, these tiny, elusive creatures consist of a somatoderm of ciliated cells surrounding one or more reproductive cells.
Orthonectida is a small phylum of poorly known parasites of marine invertebrates that are among the simplest of multi-cellular organisms. Members of this phylum are known as orthonectids.
Dicyemida, also known as Rhombozoa, is a phylum of tiny parasites that live in the renal appendages of cephalopods.
Myxobolus is a genus of myxozoa that includes important parasites of fish like Myxobolus cerebralis. The genus is polyphyletic, with members scattered throughout the myxozoa. Some stages of Myxobolus species were previously thought to be different organisms entirely, but are now united in this group. Some fish species, such as the thicklip grey mullet, can harbour a dozen of Myxobolus species.
Hippoboscidae, the louse flies or keds, are obligate parasites of mammals and birds. In this family, the winged species can fly at least reasonably well, though others with vestigial or no wings are flightless and highly apomorphic. As usual in their superfamily Hippoboscoidea, most of the larval development takes place within the mother's body, and pupation occurs almost immediately.
Sepia is a genus of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae encompassing some of the best known and most common species. The cuttlebone is ellipsoid in shape. The name of the genus is the Latinised form of the Ancient Greek σηπία (sēpía) "cuttlefish".
Gongylonema is a genus of thread-like nematode that was described by Molin in 1857. It is the only currently valid genus in the family Gongylonematidae, though the mysterious Spiruroides – usually placed in the Subuluridae, which are not closely related to Gongylonema among the Spiruria – might actually belong here. They are parasites of birds and mammals, transmitted by insects. Some 38 species are known, about 12 of which have been recorded in Europe.
Ceratomyxa is a genus of myxozoan.
Dicyema shimantoense is a parasitic worm of the phylum Dicyemida. It is a vermiform mesozoan parasite that infects the renal appendages of the cephalopod Octopus sasakii. The name is derived from the Shimanto River, which is the longest river in Shikoku, and flows into Tosa Bay. A study from 2000-06 used 59 specimens obtained from fishermen at Tosa Bay and Kii Strait in Japan. O. sasakii is a cephalopod found mainly in the shallow-water of Southern Japan. Research found that only those of certain sizes and geographical locations can be infected by D.shimantoense.
Aggregata is a genus of parasitic alveolates belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa.
Kudoa is a genus of Myxozoa and the only genus recognized within the monotypic family Kudoidae. There are approximately 100 species of Kudoa all of which parasitize on marine and estuarine fish. Kudoa are most commonly known and studied for the negative effects the genus has on commercial fishing and aquaculture industries.
Chromidina is a genus of apostome ciliates of the family Opalinopsidae. Species of Chromidina are parasitic in the renal and pancreatic appendages of cephalopods.
Chromidina elegans is a species of parasitic ciliates. It is a parasite of the cuttlefish Sepia elegans.
Sepia elegans, the elegant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae from the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is an important species for fisheries in some parts of the Mediterranean where its population may have suffered from overfishing.
Sepioloidea lineolata or more commonly known as the striped pyjama squid or the striped dumpling squid is a type of bottletail squid that inhabits the Indo-Pacific Oceans of Australia. Although traditionally falling within Sepiida, the cuttlefish order, it lacks a cuttlebone. More recent phylogenomic evidence suggests bottletail and bobtail squid may form their own order, Sepiolida. The striped pyjama squid lives on the seafloor and is both venomous and poisonous. When fully mature, a striped pyjama squid will only be about 7 to 8 centimetres in length. Baby striped pyjama squid can be smaller than 10 millimetres (0.39 in).
Opisthoteuthis depressa, also known as the Japanese flapjack octopus, is an octopus found in waters near Japan.
Kantharellidae is a family of worms belonging to the class Rhombozoa, order unassigned. The family consists of only one genus: KantharellaCzaker, 1994. The only species in the genus is Kantharella antarctica. This species is most closely related to other species of the order Dicyemida, which only has one other family, Dicyemidae.
Auerbachia is a genus of cnidarians belonging to the family Auerbachiidae. The species of this genus are found in Australia.
Dicyema is a genus of worms belonging to the family Dicyemidae.
Dicyemennea is a genus of worms belonging to the family Dicyemidae.
