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Type: Article
Published: 2008-10-27
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Helminth parasites of freshwater fish from Central America

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, Laboratorio de Helmintología, Apartado Postal 70-153 CP 04510, México D. F. Mexico
Fish parasites helminths checklist freshwater fishes Central America zoogeography Platyhelminthes Trematoda Monogenea Cestoda Nematoda Acanthocephala Cichlidae Poeciliidae Characidae Heptapteridae cichlids poeciliids endemism

Abstract

This study is a compilation of current knowledge of the taxonomic composition and distribution of the helminth parasites of freshwater fish in Central America. A list of 111 adult helminth species up to day reported from 17 freshwater fish families from Central America was compiled. The data show a helminth parasite fauna in freshwater fish that is typical to the region. One hundred and two of the known helminth species are endemic to the area, 32 of which can be derived from South American genera. Nematodes were the most abundant group, followed by monogeneans and trematodes. None of the 29 helminth families recorded to date is exclusive to Central America, while 16 of the 65 recorded genera have been only recorded from this area. Twenty three of these genera are South American lineages. The data suggest that helminth parasites of freshwater fish from Central America constitute a recent fauna derived mainly from South America but not found there.

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