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The crustacea are a large group of arthropods but are usually treated as a subphylum. The majority of crustaceans are aquatic but some have adapted to terrestrial life.
The crustacea are a large group of arthropods but are usually treated as a subphylum. The majority of crustaceans are aquatic but some have adapted to terrestrial life.
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There are only two species of parasitic crustacea of veterinary importance, the tongue worm ''Linguatula serrata'' and sealice ''Lepeophtheirus and Caligus'' spp.
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There are only two species of parasitic crustacea of veterinary importance, the tongue worm ''Linguatula serrata'' and sealice ''Lepeophtheirus and Caligus spp.''
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==''Linguatula serrata''==
==''Linguatula serrata''==
[[Image:Linguatula taenioides.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Copyright Cooper Curtice (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1890) Wikimedia Commons]]
[[Image:Linguatula taenioides.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Copyright Cooper Curtice (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1890) Wikimedia Commons]]
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*Also known as the 'tongue worm'
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*Also known as the tongue worm
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*A highly specialised [[Arthropods|arthropod]]
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*Are highly specialised [[Arthropods|arthropods]]
'''Recognition'''
'''Recognition'''
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*Adults are over 10cm in length
*Adults are over 10cm in length
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**Females measure betwen 30-130mm in length
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**Females measure between 30-130mm in length
**Males measure up to 20mm in length
**Males measure up to 20mm in length
*Transversely striated
*Transversely striated
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'''Life Cycle'''
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*6 month life cycle
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'''Life cycle'''
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*Life cycle takes '''6 months'''
*Adults inhabit the [[Nasal cavity - Anatomy & Physiology|nasal passages]] of dogs and sometimes cats
*Adults inhabit the [[Nasal cavity - Anatomy & Physiology|nasal passages]] of dogs and sometimes cats