ABSTRACT
Pentastomids are worm-like organisms with characteristics of both arthropods and annelids, whose closest known relatives are branchiuran ‘sh lice (e.g., Argulus). Being dioecious obligate parasites, adult pentastomids (commonly known as “tongue worms”) usually reside in the respiratory tract of the reptile (e.g., snake, frog, lizard, and crocodile), mammal (e.g., dog and other carnivores), or bird ‘nal hosts, whereas pentastomid larvae inhabit the internal organs of vertebrate or arthropod intermediate hosts.
