Caligid fish parasites from the South and East coast of South Africa

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Date
2000-03
Authors
Grobler, Nicolaas Johannes
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Caligus Muller, 1785 are caligid copepods found almost exclusively on marine fish hosts. This genus is represented by more than 200 species in the oceans of the world and is the largest genus of parasitic copepods. A total of 39 species of Caligus parasites have been recorded off the coast of Africa, and 26 species are found along the South African coastline. Surveys carried out from 1992 to 1998 in Lake St Lucia and from 1997 to 1999 at De Hoop Nature Reserve and Jeffreys Bay along the coast of South Africa, revealed the presence of caligid copepods, of the genus Caligus MilIler, 1785, occurring on the body surfaces and gills of many estuarine and intertidal fish species. Four different species were collected from marine hosts namely, Caligus acanthopagri Lin, Ho & Chen, 1994, Caligus confusus Pillai, 1961, Caligus engraulidis Barnard, 1948, and Caligus mortis Kensley, 1970. The first three species mentioned were collected in Lake St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal, on the east coast of South Africa, and C. mortis were collected at De Hoop Nature Reserve and Jeffreys Bay on the south coast of South Africa. In the present study, males of C. engraulidis and C. mortis are described for the first time and is new to science. Further studies revealed that interesting hypersymbionts were found attached to the caligids. Sessiline ciliophorans were found on both C. acanthopagri and C. engraulidis and represents a first record for South Africa. Udonella caligorum Johnston, 1835 were found on the caligid host C. engraulidis. This monogenean worm have a complicated history, for it was placed in different taxa and families since it was first described in 1835. Phylogenetic analysis as well as morphological analysis places this worm firmly as a polyonchoinean monogenean alongside the Gyrodactylidae. These hypersymbionts do not feed on the copepods and have no detrimental effects on their hosts.
Afrikaans: Caligus Muller, 1785 is kaligid kopepode wat ekslusief op mariene visgashere gevind word. Hierdie genus word deur meer as 200 spesies wereldwyd verteenwoordig en is ook die grootste genus van parasitiese kopepode. 'n Totaal van 39 spesies van Caligus parasiete is van die kus van Afrika beskryf en 26 van hierdie spesies word aan die Suid-Afrikaanse kuslyn gevind. Gedurende navorsings opnames uitgevoer vanaf 1992 tot 1998 in die St Lucia Meer sowel as van 1997 tot 1999 by die De Hoop Natuurreservaat en Jeffreysbaai is kaligid kopepode van die genus Caligus versamel. Hierdie parasiete was op die liggaamsoppervlak en kieue van 'n verskeidenheid estuariene en intergety visspesies gevind. Vier verskillende spesies, naamlik Caligus acanthopagri Lin, Ho & Chen, 1994, C. confusus Pillai, 1961, C. engraulidis Barnard, 1948 en C. mortis Kensley, 1970 was vanaf mariene gashere versamel.' Die eersgenoemde drie spesies was in die St Lucia Meer, KwaZulu-Natal, aan die ooskus van Suid-Afrika versamel en C. mortis was by die De Hoop Natuurreservaat en Jeffreysbaai aan die suidkus van Suid-Afrika versamel. In hierdie studie word die mannetjies van C. engraulidis en C. mortis vir die eerste keer beskryf. Na aanleiding van verdere navorsing is 'n baie interessante hipersimbiont vanaf die kaligids gevind. Sessiele siliofore was op beide C. acanthopagri en C. engraulidis aangetref. Dit verteenwoordig die eerste rekord van hierdie simbiont van Suid-Afrika. Die hipersimbiont Udonella caligorum Johnston, 1835 was op die kaligid gasheer C. engraulidis gevind. Hierdie wurm is "n verteenwoordiger van die klas Monogenea en het 'n gekompliseerde geskiedenis. Sedert dit in 1835 beskryf was, is dit in verskillende taksa en families geplaas. Filogeneties en morfologiese analises plaas hierdie wurm as 'n verteenwoordiger van die subklas Polyonchoinea saam met die Gyrodactylidae. Hierdie hipersimbionte voed nie op die kopepode nie en het dus geen negatiewe effek op hul gashere nie.
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Copepoda -- South Africa, Parasites -- Fishes -- South Africa, Dissertation (M.Sc. (Zoology and Entomology))--University of the Orange Free State, 2000
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