Parasites of cypriniform fishes of the Santa Clara River

Authors: Max Murray

Year: 2022

Abstract

Freshwater fishes in the southwestern United States live in some of the most highly modified habitats in the country. As a result, the relatively small number of native fish species have been impacted in many ways including the introduction of nonnative fishes and their parasites. 35 Catostomus santaane (Santa Ana sucker), 61 Catostomus santaanae x Catostomus fumeiventris F2 hybrids, 18 Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), and 214 Gila orcutti (arroyo chub) were collected and necropsied in the summers of 2017 and 2018. Ten species of macroparasites were collected from these fishes including six native and four nonnative parasites. The most abundant species of native parasite was Rhadbochona sp. while the most abundant nonnative parasite was Lernaea cyprinacae (anchor worm). The prevalence of Rhadbochona sp. was highest in G. orcutti (69%) and lowest in C. santaanae (5%). The prevalence of L. cyprinacae is highest in G. orcutti (29%) and lowest in P. promelas (5%).