POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF METAMICROCOTYLA-MA CRACANTHA (MONOGENEA, MICROCOTYLIDAE) PARASITE OF MUGIL-CEPHALUS (PISCES, MUGILIDAE) IN THE CENTRAL PERUVIAN COAST
Jl. Luque, POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF METAMICROCOTYLA-MA CRACANTHA (MONOGENEA, MICROCOTYLIDAE) PARASITE OF MUGIL-CEPHALUS (PISCES, MUGILIDAE) IN THE CENTRAL PERUVIAN COAST, Revista de biologia tropical, 42(3), 1994, pp. 733-735
Infestation by the monogenean Metamicrocotyla macracantha was studied
from 1983 to 1986 in 584 fishes (Mugil cephalus) from the central Peru
vian coast. Prevalence, abundance and mean intensity of infestation we
re 60.88, 2.14 and 3.53, respectively. A total of 1 252 parasites were
collected; they had an overdispersed distribution and a low degree of
aggregation. Longer fishes were more heavily infested, bur sexes did
not differ. The infestation showed no significant seasonal variations.
The parasite preferred the first branchial pair. Because of an absenc
e of drastic temperature changes, the central Peruvian coast is a favo
rable environment for the continuity of the life cycle of M. macracant
ha.