An Amphibian Acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus lucidus (Echinorhynchida: Echinorhynchidae), Infecting a Fish, Salvelinus leucomaenis leucomaenis (Salmoniformes: Salmonidae)

Abstract

An adult male specimen of the amphibian acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus lucidus Van Cleave, 1925 was isolated from the intestine of a whitespotted char, Salvelinus leucomaenis leucomaenis (Pallas, 1814), collected from a stream in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. This represents the second record of fish infection by this species of acanthocephalan. The life cycle of A. lucidus is discussed, and the char is assumed to have become infected by preying on a frog harboring the specimen. The known vertebrate hosts of A. lucidus and the geographical distribution of this species in Japan and East Asia are tabulated.