Helminth Parasites of the Blackstripe Topminnow,Fundulus notatus(Cyprinodontiformes: Fundulidae), from Arkansas and Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Between August 2014 and August 2015, in the Ouachita and Red River drainages of Arkansas (n = 17) and the Red River drainage of Oklahoma (n = 113), 130 Blackstripe Topminnows, Fundulus notatus, were collected and examined for helminth parasites. Sixty-three (48%) F. notatus, including 7 (37%) from Arkansas and 56 (50%) from Oklahoma, were infected. These included 16 (12%) with Homalometron robisoni, 24 (18%) with immature Proteocephalus sp., 8 (6%) with larval Eustrongylides sp., 17 (13%) with Spiroxys sp. larvae, 3 (2%) with acanthocephalan cystacanths, 1 (0.8%) with Leptorhynchoides thecatus, and 1 (0.8%) with Neoechinorhynchus sp. In addition, 1 of 5 (20%) from Arkansas harbored the monogenean Salsuginus umbraensis. We document 4 new host and 3 new distributional records.