A phylogeny of Cichlidogyrus spp. (Monogenea, Dactylogyridea) clarifies a host-switch between fish families and reveals an adaptive component to attachment organ morphology of this parasite genus.

摘要: Background Parasite switches to new host species are of fundamental scientific interest and may be considered an important speciation mechanism. For numerous monogenean fish parasites, infecting different hosts is associated with morphological adaptations, in particular the attachment organ (haptor). However, haptoral morphology Cichlidogyrus spp. (Monogenea, Dactylogyridea), parasites African cichlids, has been mainly linked phylogenetic rather than constraints. Here we determined position amieti, a parasite Aphyosemion (Cyprinodontiformes, Nothobranchiidae) phylogeny its congeners order infer origin assess changes host-switching events.