Argulus

Argulus is a genus of fish lice in the family Argulidae. There are about 140 accepted species in the genus Argulus.^[1][2][3][4] They occur in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments.^[1] They sit tightly against the host body,^[5] this minimises risk of detachment. As juveniles, these species feed on mucous and skin cells of their host. With age they become blood feeders because the parasite moves from feeding on the fins to feeding on the body of the fish, causing the feeding change.^[6] At least some species can have severe impacts on their host populations.^[5]

Argulus japonicus

Argulus
Argulus coregoni
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Ichthyostraca
Subclass:	Branchiura
Order:	Arguloida
Family:	Argulidae
Genus:	Argulus Müller, 1785
Species
~140 species (see list)

Taxonomy

As of December 2022, 138 species are accepted: List of Argulidae species^[1]