On Micropharynx parasitica Jägerskiöld, a marine planarian ectoparasitic on thorny skate, Raja radiata Donovan, from the North Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Ball, Ian R., Khan, R. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1976
• Subjects: Canada; Newfoundland; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1976.tb03970.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1976.tb03970.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1976.tb03970.x

A marine planarian, Micropharynx parasitica Jägerskiöld, is recorded as an ectoparasite from thorny skates, Raja radiata Donovan, trawled off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. These are the first records of this parasite in the western North Atlantic Ocean. A description of the material is given to facilitate identification of the parasite, together with some biological notes. The association between Micropharynx and Raja seems to be a true parasitic one, and not a case of commensalism. M. murmanica Awerinzew is considered to be a junior synonym of M. parasitica.