Míc, R., E. Rehulková & M. Seifertová. (2023). Species of Ergasilus von Nordmann, 1832 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) from cichlid fishes in Lake Tanganyika. Parasitology. 150: 579–598.

448451

10.1017/S0031182023000239 [view]

Míc, R., E. Rehulková & M. Seifertová

2023

150: 579–598.

Publication

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Ergasilus von Nordmann, 1832 (Ergasilidae) is a species-rich group of parasitic copepods with a wide distribution in freshwater, marine, and brackish environments. Up to now, nine species of Ergasilus are known from cichlid fishes in Africa. In this study, five species, including three new, were collected from the gills of twelve cichlid species (eleven genera: Bathybates, Ctenochromis, Eretmodus, Gnathochromis, Lamprologus, Neolamprologus, Ophthalmotilapia, Perissodus, Simochromis, Spathodus and Tanganicodus) of the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, namely E. macrodactylus (Sars, 1909), E. megacheir (Sars, 1909), E. caparti n. sp., E. parasarsi n. sp and E. parvus n. sp.. All species found were identified and described on the basis of adult female specimens using an integrative taxonomy approach mixing morphological characterization and molecular analyses of two ribosomal DNA markers (partial 18S and 28S rDNA sequences). An identification key for Ergasilus species from Lake Tanganyika is included. This study provides the first molecular data for Ergasilus species in Africa. The phylogenetic analyses suggest that the Ergasilus species parasitizing Lake Tanganyikan cichlids form a well-supported clade within the Ergasilidae. However, their phylogenetic relationships with other congeners still remain unclear due to a lack of molecular data for this diverse genus. Key words: parasitic crustaceans; Africa; Tanganyika; cichlids; diversity

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