Lernanthropids (Siphonostomatoida: Copepoda) parasitizing the marine fishes of Kerala Coast (India): Species diversity, phylogeny and host-parasite interaction
This study provides new information on the distribution of 17 known species of lernanthropids recovered from 25 species of commercially valuable marine fishes of the Kerala coast, including two new host records. The sampled species comprised five genera viz. Lernanthropus, Lernanthropinus, Mitrapus, Aethon and Sagum, of which Aethon appeared dominant with the prevalence of 67.99 %. Lernanthropus comprised 10 species with the prevalence ranged from 3.20–64.15 %, followed by Lernanthropinus comprising 4 species with the prevalence 4.8–43.04 %. Aethon, Sagum and Mitrapus were monotypic with the prevalence of 67.99 %, 33.77 % and 23.21 %, respectively. The data on host specificity revealed that approximately 59 % of the lernanthropid species prefer single host specific infection, while the remaining showed double or quadruple host parasitization. Seasonal prevalence revealed highest