''Chonopeltis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These

crustaceans Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean gro ...

are

ectoparasitic Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...

and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County People *Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman * Michel Host ...

. Species of this

are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwater rivers.

Description

Members of this

do not grow any larger than a few millimetres in size. They have flat bodies covered by a carapace, and have two large suction cups, one on either side their heads. They use these suction cups to stick to their hosts. They feed on the host‘s various assets, including mucus, internal fluids and sloughed-off scales.

Life cycle

Their larvae live and grow on their host‘s body, and mating occurs on the body of the host. ''Chonopeltis'' species will not leave the host during the egg-laying process, as they are poor swimmers. This is in contrast to other members of the family)

Argulidae The family Argulidae, whose members are commonly known as carp lice or fish lice, are parasitic crustaceans in the class Ichthyostraca. It is the only family in the monotypic subclass Branchiura and the order Arguloida, although a second family, ...

, who must leave their hosts to mate. After mating, females will adhere their eggs to structures or substrate in their environment while the host is at rest.

Species

As of December, 2022, there are 12 species recognised in the genus ''Chonopeltis'': *'' Chonopeltis australis'' *'' Chonopeltis brevis'' *''

Chonopeltis congicus ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

'' *'' Chonopeltis elongatus'' *'' Chonopeltis flaccifrons'' *'' Chonopeltis fryeri'' *''

Chonopeltis inermis ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

'' *''

Chonopeltis lisikili ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

'' *''

Chonopeltis liversedgi ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

'' *''

Chonopeltis meridionalis ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

'' *''

Chonopeltis minutus ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

'' *''

Chonopeltis schoutedeni ''Chonopeltis'' is a genus of fish lice in the subclass Branchiura. These crustaceans are ectoparasitic and spend most of their lives on the body of an aquatic host. Species of this genus are found exclusively in Africa, and inhabit freshwate ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18583595 Crustacean genera