Telegamatrix | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
Class: | Monogenea |
Order: | Dactylogyridea |
Family: | Diplectanidae |
Genus: | Telegamatrix Ramalingam, 1955 |
Species | |
See text |
Telegamatrix is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, belonging to the family Diplectanidae.[1][2] Species of Telegamatrix are parasitic on the gills of marine fish of the families Clupeidae and Leiognathidae.
In the original description of the type species and genus, Ramalingam (1955) [1] wrote: "It is seldom that an entirely novel animal is found, but Telegamatrix seems to be a unique example in evolution of what would appear to be an ideal copulatory arrangement for a sedentary hermaphrodite, whether animal or lower plant." Indeed, the genital apparatus of species of Telegamatrix include a spectacular "tentacle" as long as an adult (i.e. about 1 mm).[1]
According to the World Register of Marine Species,[2] the following species are included in the genus: