Abstract
The present study investigated the fauna of metazoan parasites of a Geophagus proximus population from the lower Tapajos River, in the state of Para, northern Brazil. A total of 137 monogeneans were collected from the gills of G. proximus, including Sciadicleithrum kritskyi, Sciadicleithrum paranaensis and Sciadicleithrum geophagi, while 119 Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) lanfrediae nematodes and 28 metacercariaes of digenea undetermined were collected from the intestine. Hosts harboring four species of parasites were predominant. The parasites had an aggregated dispersion pattern. The present study represents the first record of S. geophagi parasitizing G. proximus, increasing the geographic distribution of these parasite species to the Tapajos River basin.
Highlights
The Cichlidae Bonaparte, 1840 family comprises the greatest wealth of fish species, with 202 genera and around 1762 species [1]
The present study investigated the fauna of metazoan parasites of a Geophagus proximus population from the lower Tapajós River, in the state of Pará, northern Brazil
A total of 137 monogeneans were collected from the gills of G. proximus, including Sciadicleithrum kritskyi, Sciadicleithrum paranaensis and Sciadicleithrum geophagi, while 119 Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) lanfrediae nematodes and 28 metacercariaes of digenea undetermined were collected from the intestine
Summary
The Cichlidae Bonaparte, 1840 family comprises the greatest wealth of fish species, with 202 genera and around 1762 species [1]. The family is widely geographically distributed and contains species with different life habits, with the majority of neotropical species presenting extragenital sexual dimorphism, wide variations in size and shape, diversified coloration and great potential for use in aquariums [1]. Geophagus proximus Castelnau, 1855 is endemic to South America, and is distributed in the Ucayali River in Peru and the Solimões-Amazon River, Tocantins River and the Trombetas River in Brazil [2]. This benthopelagic fish inhabits riverbanks and lakes, feeding on small fruits, seeds, algae, crustaceans, insect larvae and mollusks [3] [4]. Its sexual maturation occurs when it reaches approximately 12 cm in length, and it exhibits split spawning and the habits of incubating the eggs in the mouth and caring for its offspring after hatching [3]
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