Telegamatrix

Telegamatrix is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, belonging to the family Diplectanidae.^[1][2] Species of Telegamatrix are parasitic on the gills of marine fish of the families Clupeidae and Leiognathidae.

Telegamatrix
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Platyhelminthes
Class:	Monogenea
Order:	Dactylogyridea
Family:	Diplectanidae
Genus:	Telegamatrix Ramalingam, 1955
Species
See text

In the original description of the type species and genus, Ramalingam (1955) ^[1] wrote: "It is seldom that an entirely novel animal is found, but Telegamatrix seems to be a unique example in evolution of what would appear to be an ideal copulatory arrangement for a sedentary hermaphrodite, whether animal or lower plant." Indeed, the genital apparatus of species of Telegamatrix include a spectacular "tentacle" as long as an adult (i.e. about 1 mm).^[1]

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species,^[2] the following species are included in the genus:

• Telegamatrix elegans Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1976 ^[3]
• Telegamatrix grandis Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1976 ^[3]
• Telegamatrix pellona Ramalingam, 1955 ^[1] (type species)
• Telegamatrix ramalingami Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1976 ^[3]