SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND INTERRELATIONSHIP OF FOUR MONOGENOIDEA OF JACK MACKEREL, Caranx hippos (Carangidae) IN THE NORTH-EAST OF VENEZUELA

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A total of 224 Jack mackerel, Caranx hippos (Family Carangidae) of three size groups (Juveniles, subadults and adults) were examined for monogenoidea. Each branchial arch was divided into six sections and gill parasites were collected, classified, and counted from each section separately. Four monogeneans, namely, Protornicrocotyle mirabilis, Cemocotyle noveboracensis, Allopyragraphorus hippos and Cernocotyllela elongata were common in both subadult and adult fish. Distribution of parasites in the mid-posterior and mid-anterior sections was significantly different from the other sections (P = 0.001). The attachment of parasites on the second and third gill arches were markedly different from the first and fourth. P. mirabilis was the most abundant species in both subadult and adult host, while the least common was C. noveboracensis in the adult, and C. elongate in the subadult. Statistical analysis between the different combinations made with four species of parasites revealed close association in most of the combinations, with the exception of P. mirabilis and C. elongate, which showed a negative correlation in the subadults, but the same combination was positive in the adult host. Key words: Caranx hippos, ecology, monogenoidea. RESUMEN: Se estudiaron 224 jureles, Caranx hippos (Familia Carangidae) correspondiente a tres grupos de tanialio (juveniles, subadultos y adultos) para recolectar monogenoidea de las branquias. Cada arco branquial se dividiO en seis secciones y los monogeneticos de calla section fueron clasificados y enumerados. Cuatro monogeneos, Protornicrocotyle mirabilis, Cernocotyle noveboracensis, Allopyragraphorus hippos y Cemocotyllela elongate, fueron comunes a los peces subadultos y adultos. La distribuciOn de parisitos en las secciones posterior media y anterior media fue diferente a la de otras secciones (P = 0.001). La fijaciOn de parisitos al 2d° y 3" arcobranchial tambien fue diferente a las observadas en el primero y el cuarto. P. mirabilis fue uuly abundante en los grupos subadultos y adultos, mientras que C. noveboracensis fue poco comiin en adultos y C. elongate en subadultos. El analisis estadIstico revelci una estrecha asociaciOn en la mayoria de las combinaciones entre las cuatro especies. Sin embargo, la combinaciOn de P. mirabilis y C. elongate demostr6 una rela.ciOn negativa en los subadultos, pero no en los adultos. Palabras slave: Caranx hippos, ecologia, monogenoides.