Ectoparasitic crustaceans on mullet, Mugil curema (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae) in the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

Ricardo Massato Takemoto,Sathyabama Chellappa,Gilberto Cezar Pavanelli,Leucio Câmara Alves,Elizete Teresinha Santos Cavalcanti

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i3.6796

Abstract

White mullet is a commercial fish species abundant in the coastal waters of Brazil. This study investigated the occurrence of crustacean ectoparasites on white mullet, Mugil curema captured from the littoral waters of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. From 2006 to 2007, 31 individuals of M. curema were captured and encountered ectoparasites were observed, identified and counted. M. curema was parasitized by ectoparasitic crustaceans, caligid copepods, Caligus bonito and Caligus sp.; ergasilid copepods, Ergasilus versicolor and E. lizae; and isopod Cymothoa spinipalpa. Of the caligids detected, 66.66% were C. bonito and 33.33% Caligus sp. C. bonito occurred on males of M. curema during the drought season and Caligus sp. occurred on females during the rainy season. The prevalence of both caligid species was 3.23%. Of the ergasilids detected, E. versicolor (91.67%) occurred during the drought and rainy seasons, whereas E. lizae (8.33%) occurred during the rainy season. Prevalence of E. versicolor was 35.48% and E. lizae was 3.23%. C. spinipalpa was detected during the drought and rainy seasons with a prevalence of 16.13%. The preferred site of fixation by the parasites was the branchial chambers.

Highlights

The great diversity of species of the fish fauna is a striking feature of the Brazilian coast, though few are really abundant
This study investigated the occurrence of crustacean ectoparasites on white mullet, Mugil curema captured from the littoral waters of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil
M. curema was parasitized by ectoparasitic crustaceans, caligid copepods, Caligus bonito and Caligus sp.; ergasilid copepods, Ergasilus versicolor and E. lizae; and isopod Cymothoa spinipalpa

Summary

Introduction

The great diversity of species of the fish fauna is a striking feature of the Brazilian coast, though few are really abundant. Around 440 fish species were recorded in the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil (SOARES, 1988; CAVALCANTI et al, 2004). Studies on parasitic copepods of marine fishes are still scarce in Brazil. Biological Sciences because of the great diversity of ichthyofauna in its coastal waters. Many crustacean copepods and isopods are ectoparasites of fish and their infestation may affect the development, health and appearance of economically important fish species, rendering their marketing difficult (BOXSHALL; MONTÚ, 1997; FONSÊCA et al, 2000).

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