Abstract

Objective: To provide informations on the diversity of Monogenea parasitizing belonid fishes from the Mediterranean Sea. Monogenean species Aspinatrium gallieni Euzet and Ktari, 1971 (A. gallieni) and Axine belones Abildgaard, 1794 (A. belones) from belonids Tylosurus acus imperialis Rafinesque, 1810 (T. a. imperialis) and Belone belone Lowe, 1839 (B. belone) off Tunisian coast were redescribed. Methods: During the sampling period between 2004 and 2009, a total of 624 belonid fish belonging to three species, 453 B. belone, 45 Belone svetovidovi Collette and Parin, 1970 and 126 T. a. imperialis were investigated for monogenean parasites. Results: Five Polyopisthocotylean monogenean parasites species were founded infected belonid fishes from Tunisian coast. These are, Nudaciraxine imperium Châari, Derbel and Neifar, 2010, A. belones, Axine sp., Axinoides sp. (Axinidae) and A. gallieni (Micrcotylidae). Among them, the most prevalent species A. gallieni from the inner gill cover and gill filaments of T. a. imperialis and A. belones from the gills of B. belone were redescribed. A. gallieni represented new host record for T. a. imperialis. A complete list of monogenean parasites found in belonid fishes from our study and those reported from the Mediterranean Sea was presented. Conclusions: This paper enhances the current knowledge of Monogenea infecting belonids off the Mediterranean Sea. It’s the first study on monogenean parasites of the overall belonid fishes off Tunisia.

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