Argulus spp. (Crustacea: Branchiura) on Fishes from Arkansas and Oklahoma: New Geographic Distribution Records

Abstract

The genus Argulus Müller contains about 129 species and subspecies that are ectoparasites, primarily on fishes in freshwater or marine habitats (Poly 2008). However, there has not been a good taxonomic treatment of Argulus in the U.S. since Cressey (1972) and the genus is badly in need of revision. Most species are pancontinental in North and South America, Africa, and Eurasia. There are only a few reports of Argulus spp. infesting fishes in Arkansas and Oklahoma. In Arkansas, Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) has been reported as a host of A. nobilis Thiele (Hoffman 1999), and Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), Bluegill (L. macrochirus), and Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) have been reported as hosts for A. mississippiensis C. B. Wilson (Becker and Cloutman 1975; Cloutman 1975; Becker et al. 1978). In Oklahoma, there is a report of A. flavescens C. B. Wilson on Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from Lake Texoma (Roberts 1957) and Argulus sp. were found in the stomachs of four of 176 White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis), as well as on Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) and White Bass (Morone chrysops) in Lake Carl Blackwell, Payne County (Spall 1970). Here we provide new distributional records for some Argulus spp. on native fishes from Arkansas and Oklahoma.