Tiny worms from a mighty continent: High diversity and new phylogenetic lineages of African monogeneans

► The family Gyrodactylidae contains one of the most significant radiations of platyhelminth fish parasites. ► This is the first molecular phylogeny including all-but-one African gyrodactylid genera. ► Molecular dating estimates confirmed post-Gondwanan origin of gyrodactylid diversity. ► Our analyses demonstrate the systematic value of specific morphological structures while some genera need revision. ► The diversity of the African fauna is far greater than in the intensively studied European fauna.