Parasites of the deep-sea smelt Bathylagus euryops (Argentiniformes: Microstomatidae) from the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ)

• Published in: Marine Biology Research
• Main Authors: Busch, M. W., Klimpel, Sven, Sutton, T., Piatkowski, Uwe
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2008
• Subjects: Mid-Atlantic Ridge; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/6443/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/6443/1/2008%20Busch_etal_MarBiolRes4.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000801907963

The deep-sea smelt Bathylagus euryops, caught in July 2004 at the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ) of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (North Atlantic), was studied for metazoan parasites and diet composition. A total of 86 specimens with standard lengths between 6.4 and 22.1 cm (mean 13.6 cm) were examined. The parasite fauna consisted of five species: three Digenea, one Cestoda and one Nematoda. The predominant parasites were Lecithaster sp. (Digenea) and an unidentified bothriocephalidean cestode. The only nematode, Anisakis sp., occurred with a low prevalence. Bathylagus euryops at CGFZ serves as final host for the three digeneans, and as intermediate host for the cestodes and Anisakis sp. Stomach content analysis revealed a mesozooplankton crustacean diet, while 95.3% of the stomachs contained unidentified tissue.