Three species of protistan and 22 species of metazoan parasites were obtained from a sample of 179 flatfish, (Paralichthys adspersus) taken-off Antofagasta, northern Chile. Prevalence of infection of seven parasites (Protista: 1, Copepoda: 2, Digenea: 1, Acantocephala: 1, Nematoda: 2) was significantly and positively correlated with host size. Host's sex do not seem to affect prevalence of infection, except for Nybelinia surmenicola, Capillaria sp. and Anisakis sp. (prevalence of infection significantly greater in males than females) and Philometra sp. (prevalence higher in females). Mean abundance is correlated with size in nine species (Protista: 1, Copepoda: 2, Digenea: 3, Acantocephala: 1, Nematoda: 2). Host's sex do not affect mean abundance, except for Cainocreadium sp. and Philometra sp.(mean abundance higher in females) and Nybelinia surmenicola, Capillaria sp. and Anisakis sp. (mean abundance higher in males)

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Abstract.-This study compares the parasite communities of 4 phylogenetically related fish species that belong to the family Labrisomidae; Auchenionchus microcirrhis, A. variolosus, A. crinitus and Calliclinus geniguttatus. These fish are sympatric in the intertidal zone of central Chile (33°S), from where 182 specimens were collected. Twenty-one parasite taxa were found within the 4 sampled fish species. Three parasite species were the most common in the labrisomid fish: an undetermined leech (Piscicolidae), the copepod Holobomolochus chilensis, and the digenean Helicometrina nimia. Most of the parasites were host generalists. C. geniguttatus had a low similarity of parasite composition respect to Auchenionchus spp. The variation in parasite communities among labrisomid species were related to fish length and possibly to environmental variables.

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