Parasites of the Golden Topminnow, Fundulus chrysotus (Cyprinodontiformes: Fundulidae), from Arkansas, U.S.A.

Abstract

Between March 2016 and March 2018, 52 golden topminnows, Fundulus chrysotus, were collected in the Arkansas (n = 5), Ouachita (n = 20), Red (n = 21), and St. Francis (n = 6) river drainages of Arkansas and examined for parasites. Twenty-three (44%) were infected/infested, including 1 (2%) with Calyptospora funduli, 4 (8%) with Myxobolus sp., 9 (18%) with Salsuginus sp., 2 (4%) with Homalometron sp., 2 (4%) with metacercaria of Clinostomum marginatum, 4 (8%) with Posthodiplostomum minimum, 5 (10%) with immature Proteocephalus sp., 4 (8%) with larval Eustrongylides sp., 5 (10%) with acanthocephalan cystacanths, 2 (4%) with Leptorhynchoides sp., 1 (2%) with Neoechinorhynchus sp., and 1 (2%) with Lernaea cyprinacea. Six (12%) topminnows harbored multiple infections. We document 4 new host and 3 new distributional records; the Homalometron sp. appears to be new, and the samples of Myxidium likely represent at least 1, if not 2, previously undescribed species, but both require additional specimens for a description.