Diversity of metazoan parasites of freshwater fish of West Africa - in the light of recent knowledge
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| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | The ichthyofauna of Subsaharan Africa is under heavy threat and conservation strategies and research for both fish a fish parasite biodiversity are needed (Moritz and Linsenmair, 2005). All together 441 freshwater fish species are known from West Africa; 322 in the coastal rivers region and 194 in the central revers region. In the current study, metazoan parasite fauna of freshwater fish originating from 20 localities from National Park Niokolo Koba, Senegal, West Africa (larger central river system) were observed by on site surveys carried out during four field expeditions held between 2004 – 2007. Altogether 471 specimens of freshwater fish belonging to 55 species, 38 genera, 20 families and 9 orders have been investigated for metazoan parasites. According to Khalil and Polling (1997) there is more than 200 species of monogenean parasites belonging to 26 genera have been recorded from West Africa. Till now, 3872 specimens of monogenean parasites have been found and material for description of more then 20 new parasite species were obtained. |
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