Reported Siphonostomatoid Copepods Parasitic on Marine Fishes of Southern Africa

Abstract

Worldwide there are more than 12000 species of copepods known, of which 4224 are symbiotic. Most of the symbiotic species belong to two orders, Poecilostomatoida (1771 species) and Siphonostomatoida (1840 species). The order Siphonostomatoida currently consists of 40 families that are mostly marine and infect invertebrates as well as vertebrates. In a report on the status of the marine biodiversity of South Africa, parasitic invertebrates were highlighted as taxa about which very little is known. A list was compiled of all the records of siphonostomatoids of marine fishes from southern African waters (from northern Angola along the Atlantic Ocean to northern Mozambique along the Indian Ocean, including the west coast of Madagascar and the Mozambique channel). Quite a few controversial reports exist that are discussed. The number of species recorded from southern African waters comprises a mere 9% of the known species. RÉSUMÉDans le monde, il y a plus de 12000 espèces de Copépodes connus, dont 4224 sont des symbiotes. La plupart de ces espèces symbiotes appartiennent à deux ordres, les Poecilostomatoida (1771 espèces) et les Siphonostomatoida (1840 espèces). L'ordre des Siphonostomatoida comprend actuellement 40 familles, qui sont pour la plupart marines, et qui infectent des invertébrés aussi bien que des vertébrés. Dans un rapport sur l'état de la biodiversité marine en Afrique du Sud, les invertébrés parasites ont été remarqués comme étant très peu connus. Une liste de tous les signalements des siphonostomatoïdes des poissons marins des eaux sud-africaines (du nord de l'Angola le long de l'Océan Atlantique au nord du Mozambique le long de l'Océan Indien, incluant la côte occidentale de Madagascar et le Canal de Mozambique) a été établie. Quelques rapports très controversés sur le sujet sont aussi discutés. Le nombre d'espèces reconnues en Afrique du Sud ne comprend guère plus de 9% des espèces actuellement connues.

Marine fish parasitology in South Africa: history of discovery and future direction

“…In 2005, Dippenaar performed a detailed literature search, focusing on South Africa only, and compiled an updated list of the marine parasitic copepods, including the hosts known as well as the localities within South Africa (Dippenaar 2005). At that stage, only 9% of the world's siphonostomatoids were reported from southern African waters indicating the necessity for increased investigations into this parasitic group.…”

First Report of Echthrogaleus denticulatus (Smith 1874) on the Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias pelagicus Nakamura 1935) from Indian EEZ of Andaman Sea

“…Echthrogaleus denticulatus has been reported from the pelagic thresher sharks of the Southern Africa (Dippenaar 2004), Thailand's EEZ of Andaman sea (Watchariya et al 2009) and North-eastern Brazil (Santander-neto & Lessa 2013) and from the west coast of India (Pillai 1985). Asok Kumar (1990) reported the presence of E. denticulatus from Eulamia dussumeri and E. ellioti from Kerala coast, along southwest coast of India.…”

“…E. denticulatus has a wide distribution, having been reported from at least nine different shark species, in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans (Cressey 1967;Hewitt 1979;Izawa 2010;Oldewage & Smale 1993;Pilla 1985;Shiino 1954;Smith 1874;Watchariya et al 2009). E. denticulatus was reported on A. pelagicus from the Indian Ocean (Madagascar coast), South African coast, north-eastern Brazil, Thailand and Oman waters (Cressey 1867;Dippenaar 2004;Henderson et al 2013;Santander-Neto & Lessa 2013;Watchariya et al 2009). Hence, this study on the occurrence of E. denticualtus as an ectoparasite on Alopias pelagicus from the Indian EEZ of Andaman Sea provides a new distribution record for the species.…”

Rediscovery and first South African records of the parasitic copepod Cancerilla oblonga Bartsch, 1975 (Crustacea, Cancerillidae)

“…Although 429 species, representing 12 of the 39 known families, have been reported from South Africa, all of these infect fish (Dippenaar 2004). Prior to this study, none of the 12 families reported to infect invertebrate hosts had been recorded from South Africa (Dippenaar 2016).…”