Occurrence of digenea in fishes of the family Bathydraconidae in the Weddell Sea and other areas of Antarctica

Abstract

AbstractFour digenean species, Stenakron glacialis, Lepidapedon garrardi, Steringophorus arntzi and Otodistomum cestoides (metacercariae) were recorded in three of four bathydraconid species (59 specimens) examined in the Weddell Sea. The only previously reported species, Elytrophalloides oatesi, was found there only in other hosts. The total number of digenean species known as occurring in Bathydraconidae in Antarctica increased to 13. They were recorded in eight of ten host species examined. However, only a few specimens of most of bathydraconid species were investigated. Most of digenean species are more abundant in other fishes, especially in Nototheniidae and Channichthyidae. S. arntzi and S. glacialis normally occur in Bathydraco marri and Racovitzia glacialis respectively, but they were occasionally found also in Artedidraconidae; the latter was reported also from a liparidid. Intensities of infections are usually low, except in three large predatory species, Parachaenichthys charcoti, P. georgianus and Cygnodraco mawsoni, which can be parasitized by about 100 or more digeneans in some single hosts