Gordeev I.I.1, Sokolov S.G.2 2020. Macroparasites of epipelagic and eurybathic fishes in the north-western Pacific // Invertebrate Zoology. Vol.17. No.2: 118–132 [in English].
1 Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1/12, Moscow 119234 Russia. E-mail: gordeev_ilya@bk.ru
2 A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the RAS, Leninskiy pr. 33, Moscow 119071 Russia. E-mail: sokolovsg@mail.ru
doi: 10.15298/invertzool.17.2.02
ABSTRACT: A total of 25 parasitic species were found to infect 23 species of teleost and two species of cartilaginous fish in the north-western Pacific. Known generalists, anisakid and raphidascaridid juveniles (Nematoda), plerocercoids of Nybelinia surmenicola (Cestoda), and acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi (Acanthocephala) were prevalent; however, plerocercoids of Pelichnibothrium speciosum were the most common parasites of epipelagic and eurybathic fish, infecting 16 out of 23 examined teleost species. Digenean infection of eurybathic species Aptocyclus ventricosus (Cyclopteridae), Zaprora silenus (Zaproridae), Leuroglossus schmidti (Bathylagidae), and Icichthys lockingtoni (Centrolophidae) differ from other teleost fish in their parasite fauna. The present study is the first report of macroparasites from Magnisudis atlantica (Paralepididae) and I. lockingtoni. In addition, this is the first data on the infection of Gasterosteus aculeatus (Gasterosteidae) far into the open ocean. Macroparasite infection of fish in the epipelagic layer of the north-western Pacific Ocean is characterised by high infection rates and low species diversity of parasites.
KEY WORDS: helminths, Pacific Ocean, fish parasites, marine biology, parasitology.