Marine Mammal Parasite of the Month- April 2020

Apr 20, 2020 parasite of the month

This is a parasite we often see the presence of in seals through ova that is shed in the feces. It is oblong in shape and has two suckers, one oral and one ventral. One of its life cycle stages can be found in the skin of many fish species. These show up as black spots on the skin of the fish. What is this parasite and where is it found in seals?