# Astome

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Astome
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Astome.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astome
> Source revision: 1337911977
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Astomes** (order **Astomatida**) are a group of [ciliate](/source/Ciliate) eukaryotes commonly found in the guts of [annelid](/source/Annelid) worms, especially [oligochaetes](/source/Oligochaete), and other [invertebrates](/source/Invertebrate).[1] As their name implies, these parasites are characterized by an absence of mouth. The cell is covered by uniform cilia; in addition, some astomes attach themselves to their hosts by [suckers](/source/Sucker_(parasitic_worms_anatomy)), while others use various hooks or barbs.[2]

[Asexual reproduction](/source/Asexual_reproduction) is by [transverse fission](/source/Transverse_fission). In some cases, chains of individuals form by repeated fission without separation of the [cells](/source/Cell_(biology)). The sexual phenomenon of [conjugation](/source/Bacterial_conjugation) also occurs. Representative genera include *[Cepedietta](/source/Cepedietta)*, which lives in the [amphibian](/source/Amphibian) [digestive system](/source/Digestive_system), and *[Radiophrya](/source/Radiophrya)*.

## References

1. Pitelka, D. R (2013-10-22). [*Electron-Microscopic Structure of Protozoa*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yRfLBAAAQBAJ&dq=Astomatida&pg=PA189). p. 189. ISBN 9781483184746.

1. Cheng, Thomas C (2012-12-02). [*General Parasitology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=d4GQlYzode8C&dq=Astomatida&pg=PA250). p. 250. ISBN 9780323140102.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Astome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astome) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astome?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.