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Monogeneans are small worms that parasitise aquatic animals such as fish and frogs. In the same way that fleas and leeches parasitise humans, monogenean worms feed on and live upon fish and other aquatic animals, mostly drinking blood or eating skin and other things like mucus.

Monogenean worms are divided into two major groups, according to the method they use to hold on to their animal hosts, which can be thought of as "hookers" and "clampers". Some hold on using a variety of hooks ("monopisthocotyleans"), whilst others grab onto theirs hosts using squeezing clamps ("polyopisthocotyleans"). Many of the worms from both groups also use suckers or glue to hold on tight to their hosts.

One of the most exciting things about this group of animals is the large number of species that exist - so many in fact, that most of them have probably never been seen or recorded before by scientists (maybe you have a new species in your local pond or river?). Not only are there many species but these come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and have weird and wonderful life-styles.

The purpose of this website is to help children, adults, experts and non-experts to learn more about this fascinating group of animals.

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Welcome to MonoDb!