Argulus foliaceus

Argulus foliaceus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Ichthyostraca
Order: Arguloida
Family: Argulidae
Genus: Argulus
Species:
A. foliaceus
Binomial name
Argulus foliaceus
Synonyms
  • Monoculus foliaceus Linnaeus, 1758

Argulus foliaceus, also known as the common fish louse, is a species of fish lice in the family Argulidae. It is "the most common and widespread native argulid in the Palaearctic" and "one of the most widespread crustacean ectoparasites of freshwater fish in the world", considering its distribution and range of hosts. It can cause the severe disease state argulosis in a wide variety of fish species. It is responsible for epizootic outbreaks that have led to the collapse of aquaculture operations. Fish lice are not related to lice, which are insects.