BIODIVERSITY OF THE DIGENEANS AND OTHER I NTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF GOATFISHES - A REVIEW FOR MULLUS-SURMULETUS (LINNE, 1758) AND MULLUS-BARBATUS (L., 1758) IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

Two species belonging to the genus Mullus (Teleostei) are present in t he Mediterranean sea : Mullus surmuletus and M. barbatus. The intestin al helminth community of these fishes is mainly composed of Trematodes ; its richness and its diversity are one of the highest in this geogra phic area. Among the 18 digenean species reported within goatfishes, n ine have been found again within the populations studied by the author s in the northwestern Mediterranean sea. Three original drawings, conc erning the species Aponurus laguncula and Proctoeces maculatus, are pr esented. A synthesis relative to synonymy problems and to the host ran ge of these nine parasite species is realized. Maps of their geographi cal distribution in the Mediterranean basin are established. Most spec ies studied have a distribution limited to the western Mediterranean s ea and to the Adriatic sea, except Proctoeces maculatus reported until now within the goatfishes of the eastern Mediterranean sea, and Opeco eloides furcatus present everywhere in the Mediterranean sea. Presence of other intestinal worms (Cestodes, Nematodes and Acanthocephalans), known or found again, is also reported.