Argulus

{{Short description|Genus of crustaceans}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Argulus coregoni tyoumdk03.jpg

| image_caption = Argulus coregoni

| display_parents = 3

| taxon = Argulus

| authority = Müller, 1785

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = ~140 species (see list)

}}

Argulus is a genus of fish lice in the family Argulidae. There are about 140 accepted species in the genus Argulus. They occur in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. They sit tightly against the host body,{{cite journal |last1=Meehan |first1=O.L. |title=A review of the parasitic Crustacea of the genus Argulus in the collections of the United States National Museum |journal=Proceedings of the United States National Museum |date=1940 |volume=88 |issue=3087 |pages=459–522 |doi=10.5479/si.00963801.88-3087.459}} 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.{{Cite journal|last1=Hunt|first1=R.|last2=Cable|first2=J.|date=August 2020|title=Life in the fast lane: Temperature, density and host species impact survival and growth of the fish ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus |journal=Journal of Thermal Biology |language=en |volume=92 |page=102687 |doi=10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102687 |pmid=32888555 |s2cid=221502848}} At least some species can have severe impacts on their host populations.

File:Argulus japonicus.jpg