Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Monogenean parasites of sardines in Lake Tanganyika: diversity, origin and intra-specific variability
Kmentová, N.; Van Steenberge, M.; Raeymaekers, J.A.M.; Koblmüller, S.; Hablützel, P.I.; Bukinga, F.M.; N’sibula, T.M.; Mulungula, P.M.; Nzigidahera, B.; Ntakimazi, G.; Gelnar, M.; Vanhove, M.P.M. (2018). Monogenean parasites of sardines in Lake Tanganyika: diversity, origin and intra-specific variability. Contributions to Zoology 87(2): 105-132. https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/18759866-08702004
In: Contributions to Zoology. SPB Academic Publishing: Amsterdam. ISSN 1383-4517; e-ISSN 1875-9866, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Clupeidae Cuvier, 1816 [WoRMS]; Dactylogyridae Bychowsky, 1933 [WoRMS]
Author keywords
    Clupeidae, Dactylogyridae, fisheries targets, phenotypic variability, phylogeny

Authors  Top 
  • Kmentová, N., more
  • Van Steenberge, M., more
  • Raeymaekers, J.A.M., more
  • Koblmüller, S.
  • Hablützel, P.I., more
  • Bukinga, F.M.
  • N’sibula, T.M.
  • Mulungula, P.M.
  • Nzigidahera, B.
  • Ntakimazi, G.
  • Gelnar, M.
  • Vanhove, M.P.M., more

Abstract
    Whereas Lake Tanganyika's littoral and benthic zones are famous for their diverse fish communities, its pelagic zone is dominated by few species, of which two representatives of Clupeidae (Limnothrissa miodon and Stolothrissa tanganicae) take a pivotal role. We investigated the monogenean fauna infecting these freshwater clupeids to explore the link between parasite morphology and host species identity, or seasonal and geographical origin, which may reveal host population structure. Furthermore, we conducted phylogenetic analyses to test whether these parasitic flatworms mirror their host species' marine origin. Based on 406 parasite specimens infecting 385 host specimens, two monogenean species of Kapentagyrus Kmentova., Gelnar and Vanhove, gen. nov. were morphologically identified and placed in the phylogeny of Dactylogyridae using three molecular markers. One of the species, Kapentagyrus limnotrissae comb. nov., is host-specific to L. miodon while its congener, which is new to science and described as Kapentagyrus tanganicanus Kmentova, Gelnar and Vanhove, sp. nov., is infecting both clupeid species. Morphometrics of the parasites' hard parts showed intra-specific variability, related to host species identity and seasonality in K. tanganicanus. Significant intra-specific differences in haptor morphometrics between the northern and southern end of Lake Tanganyika were found, and support the potential use of monogeneans as tags for host population structure. Based on phylogenetic inference, we suggest a freshwater origin of the currently known monogenean species infecting clupeids in Africa, with the two species from Lake Tanganyika representing a quite distinct lineage.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors