First occurrence ofArgathona macronema(Bleeker, 1857) (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) on coral reef fishes along the Tuticorin coastal water, Gulf of Mannar.
Isopod Parasites are considered as a major threat to the fishing industry, due to rigorous disease outbreaks. The parasites from the two economically important reef fish family Lutjanidae and Serranidae are analyzed i.e.Epinephelus malabaricusandLutjanus rivulatus.The samples are obtained from the landings of Trawl net from Gulf of Mannar region of South east coast of India. They are severely infested by the isopod parasiteAgrathona macronemain the Pectoral fins and ventral region of the body. This species is found to be the new record in the Gulf of Mannar region and deposited in the Marine laboratory of Kamaraj College. Length and weight of the host and parasites are measured. The parasites infested on 13 specimens ofE. malabricusout of 8 and 17 out of 12 species ofL. rivulatus. The prevalence of parasite on the grouper and snapper fish (61.53 and 70.58 %) and mean intensity (2.62 and 2.58 %) respectively. The prevalence was maximum inL. rivulatusand minimum inE. malbaricusmay be to the host specificity. Further studies are needed to know the life cycle of the parasite, host preference, disease outbreak and its role in the coral reef ecosystem.
Department of Zoology, Kamaraj College, Tuticorin, Tamilnadu India.
Gurusamy
G
Chelladurai
Department of Zoology, Kamaraj College, Tuticorin, Tamilnadu India.
Jayaraj
J
Mohanraj
Department of Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamilnadu India.
Govinda Rajalu
GR
Jayanthi
Agrathona macronema; Epinephelus malabaricus; Lutjanus rivulatus; South east of India; Tuiticorin