Authors

Discussion

During the examination of four species of Teleostean fishes (Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758), Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758), Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) caught in the Algerian coast, five gill ectoparasitic monogenean species were found, which all belong to the family: Microcotylidae Taschenberg, 1879.

The species Atriaster heterodus Lebedev & Parukhin, 1969 and Polylabris tubicirrus (Paperna & Kohn, 1964) Mamaev & Parukhin, 1976 were both found in Diplodus sargus sargus; Bychowskicotyla mormyri (Lorenz, 1878) Unnithan, 1971 was collected from Lithognathus mormyrus; Atrispinum salpae (Parona & Perugia, 1890) Euzet & Maillard was obtained from Sarpa salpa and finally Sparicotyle chrysophrii (Van Beneden & Hesse, 1863) Mamaev, 1984 was extracted from Sparus aurata. The key to the identification of these monogeneans is based on the morpho-anatomical characteristics such as the shape and armature of the genital atrium.

This study has allowed us to have further insight into the biodiversity of the parasitic Monogenea in the Algerian Teleostean fishes.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Parasites, Monogenea, Microcotylidae, Sparid fishes, Algerian coast.