Phylogenetic analyses based on the partial large subunit rDNA (LSU) sequences of polyonchoinean monogeneans belonging to the Dactylogyridea and Monocotylidea were generated to investigate relationships among various subfamilies of the Dactylogyridae sensu Kritsky & Boeger, 1989. Monophyly of the Dactylogyridae was supported by all analyses performed. Status of the Ancyrocephalidae sensu Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1978 and Ancyrocephalinae sensu Kritsky & Boeger, 1989 was revised based on the present data. All phylogenetic analyses indicated polyphyletic origins of the Ancyrocephalidae and Ancyrocephalinae. Freshwater species of Ancyrocephalinae (Actinocleidus, Ancyrocephalus, Cleidodiscus and Urocleidus) and Ancylodiscoidinae (Thaparocleidus) collected from the fish in European waters were positioned at the base of the Dactylogyridae. The Dactylogyrinae formed a monophyletic group, sister to a clade including the Pseudodactylogyrinae and the tropical and subtropical Ancyrocephalinae. Analyses including only data set on Dactylogyridea were focused on relationships between representatives of the Asian and European Dactylogyrus species. Dactylogyrus species formed a monophyletic group, and the parasite colonization appeared to follow the dispersal history of the Cyprinidae from Asia to Europe. Three lineages of Dactylogyrus species were recognized: the first including species specific to hosts of Asian origin, the second by Dactylogyrus species from Chinese fish hosts, and the third included Dactylogyrus species from European cyprinids and one species from a percid host. The position of D. cryptomeres from Gobio gobio seems to be unresolved.

The D1-D2 domains of LSU rDNA were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships within the Ancyrocephalinae (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) utilizing maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML), minimum evolution (ME) and neighbour-joining (NJ) methods. A total of 32 monogenean taxa were examined in the present study, including 9 Haliotrema species and 13 other species representing the Ancyrocephalinae, 4 Thaparocleidus species representing the Ancylodiscoididae, and 6 species representing the Diplectanidae which were used as multiple outgroups. All 4 analyses (i.e. MP, ML, ME and NJ) inferred the same interrelationship pattern: (Diplectanidae, (Ancylodiscoididae, Dactylogyridae)) with high bootstrap support. However, 9 Haliotrema species were dispersed to form 4 clades together with species from other genera, indicating the apparent non-monophyly of Haliotrema. Three major groups were defined based on reconstructed phylogenetic trees to explain the radiation of Haliotrema species. The morphology of the reproductive organ, particularly the male copulatory organ (MCO), was discussed to further understand the formation of each group. (1) Results of the present study indicated an intimate relationship among Metahaliotrema (2 species), Protogyrodactylus (4 species) and Haliotrema (2 of 9 species), and notably, all these species share vagina-absence. (2) Based on the present molecular analyses and the morphological characters of the MCO, we propose to transfer H. spirotubiforum and the undetermined Haliotrema sp. ZHDDb to Euryhaliotrema as new combinations. (3) We propose to erect a new genus to accommodate the Haliotrema species with horn-like shaped MCO. Taxonomic implications of the present molecular phylogenetic analyses are discussed. A wider range of taxa and more DNA markers displaying various evolutionary rates should be used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among species within the Ancyrocephalinae and Ancylodiscoididae in further studies.