New host–parasite records of siphonostomatoid copepods infesting elasmobranch fishes in Tunisian waters

Abstract

AbstractBetween 2013 and 2015, 2092 chondrichthyan fish belonging to eight species were collected along the Tunisian coast and examined for parasitic copepods. Eleven different species of copepods representing five families, Caligidae, Eudactylinidae, Kroyeriidae, Lernaeopodidae and Pandaridae, were collected. Three of these species are reported for the first time in Tunisia (Pseudocharopinus malleus, Perissopus dentatus and Nesippus orientalis) and one new species of Kroyeria was found. In addition, we identified a number of new host records including: the presence of Eudactylinella alba on Bathytoshia centroura, Dasyatis pastinaca, Mustelus mustelus and Scyliorhinus canicula. This is the first record of Nemesis sp. on B. centroura in Tunisia. We report here for the first time the presence of Pseudocharopinus bicaudatus and Pseudocharopinus concavus on Bathytoshia centroura and Lernaeopoda galei on Raja clavata.