Editing Monogenea (section)

{{Short description|Class of ectoparasitic flatworms}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2007}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Echinoplectanum laeve body.jpg
| image_caption = ''Echinoplectanum laeve''
| taxon = Monogenea
| authority = Carus, 1863
| subdivision_ranks = Subgroups
| subdivision = [[#Systematics and evolution|See text]].
}}

'''Monogeneans''', members of the class '''Monogenea''', are a group of ectoparasitic [[flatworm]]s commonly found on the skin, [[gills]], or fins of fish. They have a direct lifecycle and do not require an intermediate host. Adults are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive structures.<ref name="tub" >L.A. Tubbsa et al. (2005). "Effects of temperature on fecundity in vitro, egg hatching and reproductive development of ''Benedenia seriolae'' and ''Zeuxapta seriolae'' (Monogenea) parasitic on yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi". ''International Journal for Parasitology''(35), 315–327.</ref>

Some monogeneans are [[oviparous]] (egg-laying) and some are [[viviparous]] (live-bearing). Oviparous varieties release eggs into the water. Viviparous varieties release larvae, which immediately attach to another host. The genus ''Gyrodactylus''  is an example of a viviparous variety, while the genus ''Dactylogyrus'' is an example of an oviparous variety.<ref name="tub" />