Diversity of Digenea, Parasites of Fishes in Various Areas of the Antarctic
93
Taking into account the data from all Antarctic areas together, probably
all (or almost all) digenean species occurring commonly in fishes living in
shallow waters (down to 200 m) have been recognized. Unfortunately, our
knowledge of species occurring in fishes living at deeper parts of the
shelves and at the continental slope is limited. Examinations of fishes other
than Notothenioidei, including deep water artedidraconids and
bathydraconids, are needed in all areas. In total, 15 digenean species
appear to be specific parasites of Notothenioidei in the Antarctic and 17
are specific parasites of other fishes; 12 digenean species occur in the
Antarctic in both Notothenioidei and other fishes. However, three further
species, G. bowersi, D. varicus and L. macrocotyie, found in the Antarctic
only in Notothenioidei have been recorded in the SubAntarctic in other
fishes. These results should be regarded as preliminary ones. The final
conclusions of this review are as follows:
1. Out of 44 digenean species, 43 normally occur in bottom fishes and one
in bathypelagic ones.
2. Intensities of infections with Digenea are greater in coastal zones, but
the species diversity is greater in the open sea.
3. Four species are cosmopolitan or bipolar, 30 appear to be endemic to
the Antarctic (four hemiuroids, 12 opecoelids, 12 lepocreadiids and two
fellodistomids ).
4. Numbers of digenean species known as occurring in each area are not
final; those from the Ross Sea and Indian sector of the Southern Ocean
are especially far from the reality.
5. Further investigations, especially on deep water fishes in the high
Antarctic, are necessary and findings of undescribed species are
expected.
Acknowledgments
The present review is based on material collected by the author during three
expeditions of the Polish Academy of Sciences headed by Professor S. RakusaSuszczewski, the Expedition ANT XIII/3 organized by the Alfred Wegener
Institute for Polar and Marine Research headed by Professor W. Arntz, additional
materials received from Dr. M. Vacchi, Dr. E. Pisano, Dr. S. Palladino, Dr. C.
Ozouf-Costaz, Dr. M. White, Dr. A. Balushkin, Professor A. Kompowski and Mr.
T. Zadrozny, loans from the Natural History Museum in London and Dr. M.
Ostrowski de Nunez, and wide literature data listed by Zdzitowiecki [1].
References
1. Zdzitowiecki K (1996) Antarctic Digenea, parasites of fishes. Synopses of
the Antarctic Benthos 8. Koe1tz Scientific Books, Koenigstein (in press)
93
Taking into account the data from all Antarctic areas together, probably
all (or almost all) digenean species occurring commonly in fishes living in
shallow waters (down to 200 m) have been recognized. Unfortunately, our
knowledge of species occurring in fishes living at deeper parts of the
shelves and at the continental slope is limited. Examinations of fishes other
than Notothenioidei, including deep water artedidraconids and
bathydraconids, are needed in all areas. In total, 15 digenean species
appear to be specific parasites of Notothenioidei in the Antarctic and 17
are specific parasites of other fishes; 12 digenean species occur in the
Antarctic in both Notothenioidei and other fishes. However, three further
species, G. bowersi, D. varicus and L. macrocotyie, found in the Antarctic
only in Notothenioidei have been recorded in the SubAntarctic in other
fishes. These results should be regarded as preliminary ones. The final
conclusions of this review are as follows:
1. Out of 44 digenean species, 43 normally occur in bottom fishes and one
in bathypelagic ones.
2. Intensities of infections with Digenea are greater in coastal zones, but
the species diversity is greater in the open sea.
3. Four species are cosmopolitan or bipolar, 30 appear to be endemic to
the Antarctic (four hemiuroids, 12 opecoelids, 12 lepocreadiids and two
fellodistomids ).
4. Numbers of digenean species known as occurring in each area are not
final; those from the Ross Sea and Indian sector of the Southern Ocean
are especially far from the reality.
5. Further investigations, especially on deep water fishes in the high
Antarctic, are necessary and findings of undescribed species are
expected.
Acknowledgments
The present review is based on material collected by the author during three
expeditions of the Polish Academy of Sciences headed by Professor S. RakusaSuszczewski, the Expedition ANT XIII/3 organized by the Alfred Wegener
Institute for Polar and Marine Research headed by Professor W. Arntz, additional
materials received from Dr. M. Vacchi, Dr. E. Pisano, Dr. S. Palladino, Dr. C.
Ozouf-Costaz, Dr. M. White, Dr. A. Balushkin, Professor A. Kompowski and Mr.
T. Zadrozny, loans from the Natural History Museum in London and Dr. M.
Ostrowski de Nunez, and wide literature data listed by Zdzitowiecki [1].
References
1. Zdzitowiecki K (1996) Antarctic Digenea, parasites of fishes. Synopses of
the Antarctic Benthos 8. Koe1tz Scientific Books, Koenigstein (in press)