Helminth parasites of the pupfish Cyprinodon meeki (Pisces: Cyprinodontiformes), an endemic freshwater fish from North-Central Mexico

Abstract

Abstract A total of 21 pupfish Cyprindon meeki was collected from the spring Abraham González, Durango, Mexico. Seven helminth taxa were recovered: Salsuginus angularis, Posthodiplostomum minimum, Clinostomum complanatum, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, Cyclustera cf. ralli, Atactorhynchus duranguensis and Spiroxys sp. Among them, B. acheilognathi and A. duranguensis were the most frequent and abundant species. The remaining species were rare and found at low mean abundance. The observed species richness, individual parasite abundance, and diversity were low at component community and infracommunity levels. These features are in accordance with those recorded for other freshwater fish species in the Nearctic part of Mexico. Host feeding habits, along with its role as intermediate host, are suggested as the main factors in determining the helminth community structure in this fish species.