Parasites (Cestoda, Nematoda, Mollusca) of Western Starhead Topminnow, Fundulus blairae (Cypriniformes: Fundulidae), from the Red River Drainage, Southwestern Arkansas

Abstract

Between July 2016 and October 2017, and again during May and September 2018, 64 Western Starhead Topminnows, Fundulus blairae, were collected from a single site in the Red River drainage of southwestern Arkansas and examined for gill/fin ectoparasites and coelomic endoparasites. Twenty-nine (45%) were infected, including 8 (13%) with Proteocephalus sp. plerocercoids, 1 (2%) with a metacestode, Valipora minuta, 23 (36%) with encapsulated larval nematodes, Spiroxys sp., 1 (2%) with larval Eustrongylides sp., and 1 (2%) with an unknown glochidium. Four (7%) possessed a multiple infection of various parasites. No monogeneans or myxozoans were found on the gills of any fish nor were myxozoans found in the gallbladder. We document five new parasite host records in this contribution which represents only the second published report of any kind of parasite from this host.