Acanthocephalan parasites of freshwater and estuarine fishes of Bangladesh

• Main Authors: Ahmed, A.T.A, Rouf, A.J.M.A. (University of Dacca (Bangladesh). Dept. of Zoology)
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dacca (Bangladesh) ZBS 1981

Thirty-five species of freshwater and some estuarine fishes from two regions of Bangladesh were examined. Only 16 host species harboured 16 species of acanthocephalans, 5 species of which were exclusive to Patuakhali, 6 to Dacca and the remaining 5 species were distributed in both the regions. Twelve species (three species of which were regarded to be new to science) viz: Neochinorhynchus topseyi Podder, Neochinorhynchus sp., Acanthosentis dattai Podder, Acanthosentis indicus Tripathi, Acanthosentis tilapiae Baylis, Pallisentis allahabadii Agarwal, another two Pallisentis spp., Devendrosentis garuai Sahay et al., Hypoechinirhynchus sp., Heterosentis plotosi Yamaguti and Mehrarhynchus secundum Tripathi were recorded for the first time in Bangladesh. The remaining four acanthocephalans were Pallisentis nandai Sarkar and Pallisentis nagpurensis (Bhalerao) Baylis, earlier recorded by Bashirullah (1973); Pallisentis gaboes (MacCallum) Van Cleave and Acanthogyrus acanthogyrus Thapar, reported by Ahmed and Begam (1978). The genera Neoechinorhynchus Hamann, Devendro-Mehrarhynchus Datta were also new for Bangladesh. The distribution pattern as well as a brief systematic description of the acanthocephalans is given.