Checklists of Monogeneans of Freshwater and Marine Fishes of Basrah Province, Iraq

Abstract

The literature review on monogeneans of freshwater and marine fishes of Basrah province, Iraq indicated the presence of 54 monogenean taxa from 18 freshwater fish species, 11 marine fish species and five marine fish species entering fresh waters. Among these parasites, the monopisthocotyleans are represented with 26 valid species as well as eight parasites which were identified to the generic level only, while the polyopisthocotyleans are represented with 14 valid species as well as six parasites which were identified to the generic level only. The total number of monogenean species for each fish species ranged from a minimum of one parasite species in 11 fish hosts to a maximum of 14 parasite species in only one host (Silurus triostegus). The monogenean species richness ranged from their infection of one host in case of 33 monogenean species to the infection of 16 hosts in the case of the infection with Dactylogyrus vastator.