The genus was created in 1922 by Thomas Harvey Johnston and Oscar Werner Tiegs[1] for a worm previously described under the name Acanthodiscus mirabile by MacCallum in 1918.

Johnston & Tiegs originally proposed to create the subfamily Protomicrocotylinae,[1] which was later raised to family level.

[1][5][6][7] The reproductive system includes many testes, located in the anterior region of the body between the ceca, and a single posterior ovary.

[3] Justine et al.[3] observed that protomicrocotylids had specialized structures associated with their attachment organ, such as lateral flaps and transverse striations, which were not known in other monogeneans.

MacCallum (1918) found many worms on the gills of a crevalle jack and noted that he had "no doubt that at times the species may be a serious menace to the life of the fish".