Workshop no. 4. Biology of monogeneans

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Abstract
The oncomiracidia larvae of monogeneans are small, ciliated, relatively slow-moving organisms with a limited free-swimming life. For example, the oncomiracidium of the skin parasiteEntobdello, soleaeis 250 µm in length, swims at a speed of 5 mm/sec and lives for about 24 h (Kearn, 1967a). Oncomiracidial survival is dependent on the larvae finding and attaching themselves to their specific fish hosts and selection pressure has been exerted on the timing of hatching of oncomiracidia and on their behaviour during their short freeswimming lives to enhance the chances of making this important contact.