Siphonostomatoida

Siphonostomatoida
Lernaeocera branchialis (Pennellidae)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Copepoda
Infraclass: Neocopepoda
Superorder: Podoplea
Order: Siphonostomatoida
Thorell, 1859

Siphonostomatoida is an order of copepods, containing around 75% of all the copepods that parasitise fishes. Their success has been linked to their possession of siphon-like mandibles and of a "frontal filament" to aid attachment to their hosts. Most are marine, but a few live in fresh water. There are 40 recognised families: