New Data on Trichodinid Ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) of Mullus barbatus ponticus (Mullidae) in the Black Sea

Abstract

The red mullet, Mullus barbatus ponticus inhabiting in the Black Sea was examined for presence of trichodinid ectoparasites. A total of three species of trichodinids belonging to Trichodina and Paratrichodina genera, were identified: Trichodina domerguei Wallengren, 1897, Trichodina ovonucleata Raabe, 1958 and Paratrichodina obliqua Lom 1963. Photomicrographs and morphometric data were presented for each species. The existence of trichodinid parasites in relation to size and the sex of the red mullet as well as their seasonal occurences were also investigated and determined. This paper is the first report on the trichodinid ectoparasites on the red mullet in Turkey. Trichodina ovonucleata and Paratrichodina obliqua are new records for Turkish fish parasite fauna, while P. obliqua and T. domerguei are new parasite records for Mullus barbatus ponticus. The number of host of these trichodinid species is increased based on the results of this study in addition to the previously published data.