NEW RECORDS OF DIGENEA INFECTING ELASMOBRANCH AND TELEOST FISH OFF HEARD ISLAND (KERGUELEN SUB-REGION, SUB-ANTARCTIC)

Between August and October 1993, elasmobranchs and teleosts were colle cted from the shelf areas off Heard Island in the Kerguelen sub-region of the sub-Antarctic, and examined for digeneans. A total of 38 fish, comprising 4 specimens of 2 species of elasmobranchs (Rajidae), and 3 4 specimens of 5 species of teleosts (Nototheniidae, Channichthyidae a nd Congiopodidae) was collected. With the exception of Champsocephalus gunnari (Channichthyidae), 15 teleosts and 2 elasmobranchs of the rem aining species were infected. Seven digenean species were recovered, o f which Macvicaria antarctica, Stenakron kerguelense and Lecithaster m icropsi occurred in the intestine, and Derogenes varicus, Gonocerca ph ycidis, Elytrophalloides oatesi and Otodistomum cestoides in the stoma ch. L. micropsi and O. cestoides are new recordings for the Kerguelen sub-region. First: host records were L. micropsi in Channichthys rhino ceratus and O. cestoides in Bathyraja murrayi. Up to now, 7 or 8 speci es have been reported from the investigated area, much less than in ot her areas of the Kerguelen sub-region, as well as in the West Antarcti c. Therefore, it is suggested that additional species of digeneans wil l be found in this area.