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This book is the first to explore in detail the systematics and taxonomy of the digenean fauna of fish in Indian marine waters. It includes morphological descriptions of 648 species in 190 genera and 30 families. The figures from the original publications are enhanced and made more attractive. Each description is accompanied by information on hosts and distribution. Digenetic trematodes, usually known as Digeneans, are the most diverse group of metazoan parasites of marine fishes. They are parasitic flatworms (Phylum Platyhelminthes) with a complex life-cycle and as adults inhabit mainly the alimentary system and associated organs, but also occur in the blood, under the scales, in the body cavity and in the gall and urinary bladders. Keys to families, genera and species are provided, except for a few large and controversial genera, where morphological characters are insufficient for identification. Although there is extensive literature on Digeneans, it is scattered and largely in obscure local journals. Bringing together most of the primary literature on the subject, this book provides a primer for further study and a starting point for the use of modern molecular methods for the fauna of this region. Unique in its scope, it is a valuable resource for students, professional parasitologists and ecologists as well as fishery and wildlife biologists.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Material and Methods.- Chapter 3. The Digenetic trematodes.- Part I: Systematic Account-Order Diplostomida Olson, Cribb, Tkach, Bray & Littlewood, 2003.- Chapter 4. Superfamily Schistosomatoidea.- Part II: Systematic Account-Order Plagiorchiida La Rue, 1957.- Chapter 5. Superfamily Bivesiculoidea.- Chapter 6. Superfamily Bucephaloidea.-Chapter 7. Superfamily Gymnophalloidea.- Chapter 8. Superfamily Haplosplanchnoidea.- Chapter 9. Superfamily Hemiuroidea.- Chapter 10. Superfamily Apocreadioidea.- Chapter 11. Superfamily Transversotrematoidea.- Chapter 12. Superfamily Haploporoidea.- Chapter 13. Superfamily Lepocreadioidea.- Chapter 14. Superfamily Brachycladioidea.- Chapter 15. Superfamily Opecoeloidea.- Chapter 16. Superfamily Monorchioidea.-Chapter 17. Superfamily Gorgoderoidea.- Chapter 18. Superfamily Microphalloidea.- Chapter 19. Superfamily Opisthorchioidea.- Chapter 20. Miscellaneous families.- Chapter 21. Conclusion.
Report
"It provides a clear introduction to digeneans and the Indian fauna and there are then nearly 700 pages of taxonomy, tables and references. ... I strongly encourage its purchase for your libraries. It represents a summary and distillation of knowledge of a kind that is increasingly hard to come by." (Thomas H. Cribb, Parasites & Vectors, June 24, 2019)
