Parasites of the Deep-Sea Smelt Bathylagus euryops (Argentiniformes: Microstomatidae) from the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ)

Authors

Markus W. Busch, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf - Germany
Sven Klimpel, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf - Germany
Tracey Sutton, Harbor Branch Oceanographic InstitutionFollow
Uwe Piatkowski, Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences - Kiel, Germany

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2008

Publication Title

Marine Biology Research

Keywords

Bathylagus euryops, Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone, Deep-sea fish, Metazoan parasites

ISSN

1745-1000

Volume

4

Issue/No.

4

First Page

313

Last Page

317

Abstract

The deep-sea smelt Bathylagus euryops, caught in July 2004 at the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ) of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (North Atlantic), was studied for metazoan parasites and diet composition. A total of 86 specimens with standard lengths between 6.4 and 22.1 cm (mean 13.6 cm) were examined. The parasite fauna consisted of five species: three Digenea, one Cestoda and one Nematoda. The predominant parasites were Lecithaster sp. (Digenea) and an unidentified bothriocephalidean cestode. The only nematode, Anisakis sp., occurred with a low prevalence. Bathylagus euryops at CGFZ serves as final host for the three digeneans, and as intermediate host for the cestodes and Anisakis sp. Stomach content analysis revealed a mesozooplankton crustacean diet, while 95.3% of the stomachs contained unidentified tissue.

Comments

©2008 Taylor & Francis

Additional Comments

German Research Council grant #: DFG KL 2087/1-1

NSUWorks Citation

Markus W. Busch, Sven Klimpel, Tracey Sutton, and Uwe Piatkowski. 2008. Parasites of the Deep-Sea Smelt Bathylagus euryops (Argentiniformes: Microstomatidae) from the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ) .Marine Biology Research , (4) : 313 -317. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/510.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-5280-7071

DOI

10.1080/17451000801907963