| Hexabothriidae | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Protocotyle euzetmaillardi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Monogenea |
| Order: | Diclybothriidea |
| Family: | Hexabothriidae Price, 1942 [1] |
| Genera | |
See text | |
Hexabothriidae is a family of monogenean parasites. The family name was proposed by Emmett W. Price in 1942. [1] The family includes 14-16 genera according to authors [2] [3] and about 60 species; all are parasitic on the gills of chondrichthyan fishes (rays, sharks and chimaeras). [3] [4]
Studies on phylogeny of monogeneans based on morphology, [5] molecules [6] or spermatozoa [7] suggest that the Hexabothriidae are a basal group within the Polyopisthocotylea.