1
|
Couto JV, Nunes JLS, Rincon G, Paschoal F, Pereira FB. Ergasilus lyraephorus n. sp. (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Ergasilidae) parasitic on the Longtail Knifefish Sternopygus macrurus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Actinopterygii: Sternopygidae) from Northeast Brazil. Syst Parasitol 2023; 101:6. [PMID: 38114827 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-023-10133-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The cyclopoid family Ergasilidae Burmeister, 1835, is the most common group of parasitic copepods infesting fish in Brazil, and the type-genus Ergasilus von Nordmann, 1832 comprises the highest number of species. During a survey of freshwater fish in Northeast Brazil, a new species of Ergasilus was found on the gills of the Longtail Knifefish Sternopygus macrurus (Bloch & Schneider) (Actinopterygii: Sternopygidae) in the Viana lake system, State of Maranhão. Ergasilus lyraephorus n. sp. can be distinguished from its closest congeners mainly because it has a lyre-shaped ornamentation on the ventral surface of first pedigerous somite, a feature that has never been reported in the family. In addition, the new species differs from closely related congeners by having a maxillule bearing three elements, by the large spinules on the interpodal plates of legs 1, 2 and 3, and by having leg 5 reduced to a single seta of moderate size. The present study is the first report of an ergasilid parasitizing S. macrurus, as well as the first parasitic copepod found on a host belonging to the family Sternopygidae Cope.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Victor Couto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jorge Luiz Silva Nunes
- Laboratório de Organismos Aquáticos, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA, 65080-805, Brazil
| | - Getulio Rincon
- Centro de Ciências de Pinheiro, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Campus Pinheiro, Estrada Pinheiro/Pácas Km 10, s/n Enseada, Pinheiro, MA, 65200-000, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Paschoal
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA, 65080-805, Brazil
| | - Felipe Bisaggio Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Bloco L4 sala 252, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brasil.
| |
Collapse
|