Superfamily Microphalloidea Ward, 1910

Abstract

Zoogonids are gastro-intestinal parasites of marine fishes. They are characterized by a spinous tegument, a lateral genital pore, a restricted field of vitelline follicles and the presence of a canalicular seminal receptacle. The family contains about 158 species in 33 genera (Bray 2008). Molecular analysis of a few species showed that the family is a member of the superfamily Microphalloidea (Ward, 1901) (Cribb et al. 2001; Olson et al. 2003). Two subfamilies are recognized in the family: Zoogoninae Odhner, 1902, with vitellarium reduced to compact masses and untanned eggs and Lecithophyllinae Stossich, 1903 with vitelline follicles in lateral fields and tanned eggs. In the Keys to the Trematoda (Volume 3) the account on Zoogonidae was dealt by Bray (2008) where keys to subfamilies were provided and the relationships between various genera were discussed. Earlier Bray (1987a, b) provided reviews on the subfamilies Zoogoninae Odhner, 1902, and Lecithophyllinae. Molecular results reported by Olson et al. (2003), Cutmore et al. (2014) and Sokolov et al. (2016) indicate that the Zoogoninae is sister to the family Faustulidae and that the Lepidophyllinae is paraphyletic.