Simultaneous Multiple Parasitic Crustacean Infestation on Banded Needlefish, Strongylura leiura (Belonidae) from the Malabar Coast, India

Abstract

The simultaneous multiple infestation by parasitic crustacean species involving a cymothoid isopod, Mothocya renardi (Bleeker 1857) and three copepods such as Lernanthropus tylosuri Richiardi 1880, Caligodes lacinatus Heller 1868 and Bomolochus bellones Burmeister 1833 was frequently observed on Banded needlefish, Strongylura leiura (Belonidae) captured from the Malabar Coast. 130 of 132 fish specimens (S. leiura) collected from January 2011 to February 2012, were hyperinfested by 698 parasitic crustaceans including 226 M. renardi, 262 L. tylosuri, 158 C. lacinatus and 52 B. bellones. Out of 132 host fishes ( S. leiura) examined, four members showed a quadruple parasitism involving M. renardi, L. tylosuri, C. lacinatus and B. bellones. 87 host fishes showed triple parasitism and 38 others a double parasitism, with different parasitic associations. In triple parasitism 4 and in double parasitism 5 possible combinations were noticed. Two fish were parasitized only by M. renardi. The sites of infestation by the parasitic crustaceans are highly specific.