Sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on fishes reported from the Neotropical region

Francisco Neptali Morales-Serna,Rosa Maria Medina-Guerrero,Emma Josefina Fajer-Avila

doi:10.1080/23766808.2016.1236313

Francisco Neptali Morales-Serna, Rosa Maria Medina-Guerrero + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/23766808.2016.1236313

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Abstract

The Caligidae, also known as sea lice, is a family of parasitic copepods of fish that consists of 31 genera and more than 450 species, some of which have been deleterious to cultured fish. The goal of this paper was to structure a list of sea lice species known from the Neotropical region based on information from published records. A total of 115 sea lice species found on 217 fish species were listed, including 58 species of Caligus and 22 of Lepeophtheirus. It seems that the inventory of this group of parasites is far from complete. Considering the promotion of finfish sea-cage aquaculture throughout the coastal areas of Latin America, a better understanding of the sea lice biodiversity will support systematic work on parasitic copepods in the Neotropics and will provide fundamental information that could impact fish disease control and prevention strategies.

Highlights

Parasitic copepods are some of the most frequently encountered taxa parasitizing marine fish.[1]
An appropriate knowledge about the biodiversity as well as the biology and ecology of this group of parasites may be suitable in Latin American regions where marine finfish aquaculture is gaining popularity
The sea lice species with the widest geographical distribution were C. productus recorded from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Gulf of Mexico, Mexican Pacific, Panama and Venezuela; Caligus bonito Wilson, 1905 from Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Gulf of Mexico, Mexican Pacific, Panama, Peru and Venezuela; and Caligus coryphaenae Streenstrup & Lütken, 1861 from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela

Summary

Introduction

Parasitic copepods are some of the most frequently encountered taxa parasitizing marine fish.[1]. Members of the Caligidae are commonly known as ‘sea lice’. These parasites are not deleterious for wild fish; some species have caused serious problems to fish cultured in marine or brackish water. An appropriate knowledge about the biodiversity as well as the biology and ecology of this group of parasites may be suitable in Latin American regions where marine finfish aquaculture is gaining popularity

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