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Lassad Neifar - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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axinoides euzeti n sp monogenea axinidae from the gills of the needlefish tylosurus acus imperialis rafinesque Belonidae off tunisia with an updated list of hosts and localities for axinoides spp
Systematic Parasitology, 2016Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Hela Derbel, Lassad NeifarAbstract:A new axinid monogenean species, Axinoides euzeti n. sp. from the gills of the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (Rafinesque) off the Tunisian coast is described. The new species is most similar in general morphology to A. meservei Price, 1946 from Tylosurus crocodilus fodiator Jordan & Gilbert off the Atlantic Ocean and to A. kola Unnithan, 1957 from Ablennes hians (Valenciennes) off the Indian Ocean. It can be differentiated from A. meservei by the shape of anterior male genital complex armed with several rows of curved spines on the cirrus rather than 3 to 4 rows of slender spines, in having a fewer testes (87-94 vs more than 100 in the drawing of A. meservei) and a body size twice longer than wide. It differs also from A. kola which have a single row of small spines in the cirrus, in having fewer and wider clamps and fewer and smaller testes. A. euzeti represents the first record of a representative of this genus in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, taxonomic keys and an updated list of hosts and geographic localities for Axinoides species is presented.
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preliminary observations on the feeding habits of the mediterranean needlefish tylosurus acus imperialis teleostei Belonidae
Journal of coastal life medicine, 2016Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Lobna Boudaya, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Objective: To present the first information on the feeding habits of the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (T. a. imperialis) of Tunisia and to examine the diet variation in relation to the fish size, maturity and sex. Methods: Gut contents of 92 specimens of T. a. imperialis, collected mainly from May 2004 to July 2006 off the Gulf of Gabes, Southeastern Tunisian coast, were analyzed. Results: The results showed that 55.4% of them had empty guts and 44.6% contained food in their guts. The emptiness index did not vary significantly according to size classes or sexes of T. a. imperialis. Basic food consisted of teleosts (Mugilidae, Gobidae and Belonidae) (62.6%) followed by crustaceans (37.3%), mostly decapods Sycionia carinata (5.4%). A decrease in the feeding rate at the peak of the spawning season was observed for both sexes. A diet variation among juvenile and adult specimens of T. a. imperialis was found. Conclusions: This study enhances our knowledge on the biology of the Mediterranean needlefish T. a. imperialis. This fish is an active predator and an opportunistic feeder but the feeding rate declines at the peak of the spawning season. Article history:
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sclerodistomoides pacificus kamegai 1971 sclerodistomoididae gibson bray 1979 and tetrochetus coryphaenae yamaguti 1934 accacoeliidae odhner 1911 two rarely reported digeneans from tylosurus acus imperialis rafinesque Belonidae and a list of helminth
Systematic Parasitology, 2016Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Hela Derbel, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Two rarely reported digenean parasites are redescribed: Sclerodistomoides pacificus Kamegai, 1971 (Sclerodistomoididae Gibson & Bray, 1979) from the gall bladder and Tetrochetus coryphaenae Yamaguti, 1934 (Accacoeliidae Odhner, 1911) from the digestive tract of the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (Rafinesque) off Tunisia. Sclerodistomoides pacificus and T. coryphaenae represent new host and geographical records for T. a. imperialis off the Tunisian coast. A complete list of the helminth parasites found in T. a. imperialis and those reported from other subspecies of Tylosurus acus (Lacepede) throughout their wide distributional range is presented. It includes data for T. a. acus (Lacepede), T. a. imperialis, T. a. melanotus (Bleeker) and T. a. rafale Collette & Parin and comprises 46 parasite taxa. Among these, 15 species were recorded from T. a. imperialis off Tunisia.
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first detailed data on metazoan parasites of the rare species short beaked garfish belone svetovidovi teleostei Belonidae from tunisian coast central mediterranean sea
Annals of parasitology, 2016Co-Authors: M Chaari, H Derbel, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Forty five specimens of the short beaked garfish Belone svetovidovi, a rare belonid species largely confused with the garfish Belone belone from Tunisian coast Sea were examined for metazoan parasite. Nine metazoan parasites species were identified: one monogenean (Axine sp.), 4 digeneans (Lecithostaphylus retroflexus, Tergestia acanthocephala, Aponurus laguncula and Condylocotyla pilodora metacercaria), one copepod (Bomolochus bellones), one isopod (Irona nana), one acanthocephalan (Telosentis exiguus) and one nematod Hysterotylacium sp. Most of parasite species were new records for B. svetovidovi in Tunisia. In the parasite fauna of B. svetovidovi, digenean C. pilodora metacercaria was the most prevalent species (42%) followed by Monogenea Axine sp. (36%). The total length of the host did not influence parasitic infection in B. svetovidovi. The metazoan parasite composition of B. svetovidovi revealed great similarity than those of B. belone from Tunisia supporting same ecological behavior of both hosts.
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parasitic infections in the mediterranean needlefish tylosurus acus imperialis teleostei Belonidae off tunisian coast
Journal of coastal life medicine, 2015Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Objective: To provide a current survey of parasitic infections in the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (T. acus imperialis). The impact of host's size and sex on some characteristics of the infection was also examined. Methods: Between 2004 and 2009, 126 specimens of T. acus imperialis were necropsied to study their parasites. Results: Fifteen species of metazoan parasites were collected including 3 monogeneans (Aspinatrium gallieni, Nudaciraxine imperium and Axinoides sp.), 4 digeneans (Lecithostaphylus tylosuri, Tetrochetus coryphaenae, Oesophagotrema mediterranea and Sclerodistomoides pacificus), 1 cestode (Ptychobothrium sp.), 3 copepods (Lernanthropus tylosuri, Caligodes laciniatus and Caligus sp.), 1 isopod (Irona nana), 1 acanthocephalan (Rhadinorhynchus sp.), 1 nematode (anisakid larvae) and 1 annelid (piscicolid). Cestoda Ptychobothrium sp. was the most frequent species (72%). Prevalence and abundance of infection with Ptychobothrium sp. and Rhadinorhynchus sp. were positively correlated with the total length of the host. Host's sex did not seem to affect the infection parameters of parasites in T. acus imperialis. Conclusions: This study provides first information on parasitic infections in the Mediterranean needlefish T. acus imperialis off Tunisia. Parasites can be used to understand phylogeny, biology and ecology of fish host and also as bioindicators of water quality.
Manel Chaari - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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axinoides euzeti n sp monogenea axinidae from the gills of the needlefish tylosurus acus imperialis rafinesque Belonidae off tunisia with an updated list of hosts and localities for axinoides spp
Systematic Parasitology, 2016Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Hela Derbel, Lassad NeifarAbstract:A new axinid monogenean species, Axinoides euzeti n. sp. from the gills of the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (Rafinesque) off the Tunisian coast is described. The new species is most similar in general morphology to A. meservei Price, 1946 from Tylosurus crocodilus fodiator Jordan & Gilbert off the Atlantic Ocean and to A. kola Unnithan, 1957 from Ablennes hians (Valenciennes) off the Indian Ocean. It can be differentiated from A. meservei by the shape of anterior male genital complex armed with several rows of curved spines on the cirrus rather than 3 to 4 rows of slender spines, in having a fewer testes (87-94 vs more than 100 in the drawing of A. meservei) and a body size twice longer than wide. It differs also from A. kola which have a single row of small spines in the cirrus, in having fewer and wider clamps and fewer and smaller testes. A. euzeti represents the first record of a representative of this genus in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, taxonomic keys and an updated list of hosts and geographic localities for Axinoides species is presented.
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preliminary observations on the feeding habits of the mediterranean needlefish tylosurus acus imperialis teleostei Belonidae
Journal of coastal life medicine, 2016Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Lobna Boudaya, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Objective: To present the first information on the feeding habits of the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (T. a. imperialis) of Tunisia and to examine the diet variation in relation to the fish size, maturity and sex. Methods: Gut contents of 92 specimens of T. a. imperialis, collected mainly from May 2004 to July 2006 off the Gulf of Gabes, Southeastern Tunisian coast, were analyzed. Results: The results showed that 55.4% of them had empty guts and 44.6% contained food in their guts. The emptiness index did not vary significantly according to size classes or sexes of T. a. imperialis. Basic food consisted of teleosts (Mugilidae, Gobidae and Belonidae) (62.6%) followed by crustaceans (37.3%), mostly decapods Sycionia carinata (5.4%). A decrease in the feeding rate at the peak of the spawning season was observed for both sexes. A diet variation among juvenile and adult specimens of T. a. imperialis was found. Conclusions: This study enhances our knowledge on the biology of the Mediterranean needlefish T. a. imperialis. This fish is an active predator and an opportunistic feeder but the feeding rate declines at the peak of the spawning season. Article history:
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sclerodistomoides pacificus kamegai 1971 sclerodistomoididae gibson bray 1979 and tetrochetus coryphaenae yamaguti 1934 accacoeliidae odhner 1911 two rarely reported digeneans from tylosurus acus imperialis rafinesque Belonidae and a list of helminth
Systematic Parasitology, 2016Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Hela Derbel, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Two rarely reported digenean parasites are redescribed: Sclerodistomoides pacificus Kamegai, 1971 (Sclerodistomoididae Gibson & Bray, 1979) from the gall bladder and Tetrochetus coryphaenae Yamaguti, 1934 (Accacoeliidae Odhner, 1911) from the digestive tract of the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (Rafinesque) off Tunisia. Sclerodistomoides pacificus and T. coryphaenae represent new host and geographical records for T. a. imperialis off the Tunisian coast. A complete list of the helminth parasites found in T. a. imperialis and those reported from other subspecies of Tylosurus acus (Lacepede) throughout their wide distributional range is presented. It includes data for T. a. acus (Lacepede), T. a. imperialis, T. a. melanotus (Bleeker) and T. a. rafale Collette & Parin and comprises 46 parasite taxa. Among these, 15 species were recorded from T. a. imperialis off Tunisia.
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parasitic infections in the mediterranean needlefish tylosurus acus imperialis teleostei Belonidae off tunisian coast
Journal of coastal life medicine, 2015Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Lassad NeifarAbstract:Objective: To provide a current survey of parasitic infections in the Mediterranean needlefish Tylosurus acus imperialis (T. acus imperialis). The impact of host's size and sex on some characteristics of the infection was also examined. Methods: Between 2004 and 2009, 126 specimens of T. acus imperialis were necropsied to study their parasites. Results: Fifteen species of metazoan parasites were collected including 3 monogeneans (Aspinatrium gallieni, Nudaciraxine imperium and Axinoides sp.), 4 digeneans (Lecithostaphylus tylosuri, Tetrochetus coryphaenae, Oesophagotrema mediterranea and Sclerodistomoides pacificus), 1 cestode (Ptychobothrium sp.), 3 copepods (Lernanthropus tylosuri, Caligodes laciniatus and Caligus sp.), 1 isopod (Irona nana), 1 acanthocephalan (Rhadinorhynchus sp.), 1 nematode (anisakid larvae) and 1 annelid (piscicolid). Cestoda Ptychobothrium sp. was the most frequent species (72%). Prevalence and abundance of infection with Ptychobothrium sp. and Rhadinorhynchus sp. were positively correlated with the total length of the host. Host's sex did not seem to affect the infection parameters of parasites in T. acus imperialis. Conclusions: This study provides first information on parasitic infections in the Mediterranean needlefish T. acus imperialis off Tunisia. Parasites can be used to understand phylogeny, biology and ecology of fish host and also as bioindicators of water quality.
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metazoan parasites of the mediterranean garfish belone belone gracilis teleostei Belonidae as a tool for stock discrimination
Open Journal of Marine Science, 2015Co-Authors: Manel Chaari, Mariam Feki, Lassad NeifarAbstract:The aim of the present study was to provide a current survey of metazoan parasites of the Mediterranean garfish Belone belone gracilis Lowe, 1839 off Tunisian coast and their potential use as biological tags for discriminate stocks. Parasitological analysis of 453 specimens of B. b. gracilis along the eastern Tunisian coast revealed the presence of ten species of metazoan parasites: one monogenean Axine belones Abildgaard, 1794; four digeneansLecithostaphylus retroflexus (Molin, 1859), Tergestia acanthocephala (Stossich, 1887) Stossich, 1899, Aponurus laguncula Looss, 1907 and Condylocotyla pilodora(metacercaria) Pearson et Prevot, 1985; one copepod Bomolochus bellonesBurmeister, 1835; two isopods Irona nana Schioedte et Meinert, 1884 andNerocila orbignyi (Guerin-Meneville, 1832); 1 acanthocephalan Telosentis exiguus (Von Linstow, 1901) and one nematod Anisakid larvae. Discriminant analysis using parasites as biological tags, allowed identifying two stocks ofB. b. gracilis. Digenea L. retroflexus, A. laguncula and Anisakid larvae were the most important species in determining the position of sampled fishes from the central coast off Tunisia. Metacercaria C. pilodora characterized specimens from the Southern coast off Tunisia. These results were corroborated by comparing parameters of prevalence and mean abundance between zones. Discriminant analysis used for the separation of B. b. gracilis between seasons in both localities showed that a seasonal variation affected mainly specimens from the center suggesting seasonal move of fishes.
Heidi M Banford - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of transisthmian and amphi atlantic needlefishes Belonidae strongylura and tylosurus perspectives on new world marine speciation
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2004Co-Authors: Eldredge Bermingham, Heidi M Banford, Bruce B ColletteAbstract:Abstract Phylogenetic relationships among New World and eastern Atlantic species in the belonid genera Strongylura and Tylosurus were hypothesized using 3689 bp of nucleotide sequence; including the entire mitochondrial (mtDNA) ATP synthase 6 and 8 genes; partial cytochrome b ; 12S and 16S ribosomal genes; and introns and exons, 2 and 3 of the nuclear-encoded creatine kinase B gene. Concordant mtDNA and nuclear genealogies permitted well-supported inference of species relationships within Strongylura and Tylosurus , and of the chronology of diversification in the two genera. Our phylogenetic hypothesis permitted an assessment of Rosen’s [Syst. Zool. 24 (1975) 431] model of species diversification across the eastern Atlantic to eastern Pacific marine biogeographic track. The spatial predictions of the Rosen model were generally supported, but not the temporal predictions. Furthermore, long branches leading to terminal Belonidae indicated that many species have persisted for millions of years or that nucleotide substitution rates were elevated for some clades. Though heterogeneity of nucleotide substitution rate was indicated across some belonid lineages, molecular clock estimates were used to hypothesize biogeographic scenarios for Strongylura across the eastern Pacific and Atlantic region. Furthermore, use of a molecular clock indicated; that early diversification among contemporary Strongylura may have been initiated by changes in Atlantic Ocean circulation precipitated by closure of the Tethys Sea; and provided approximate dates for the isolation of the freshwater species on the American continents.
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status of the eastern pacific agujon needlefish ty l o s u rus pacificus s t e i n d a c h n e r 1876 beloniformes Belonidae
2001Co-Authors: Bruce B Collette, Heidi M BanfordAbstract:Tylosurus pacificus (Steindachner, 1876) is confirmed to have full species rank based on: 1) sympatry with T. acus melanotus at Isla Gorgona and in Panama; 2) level of morphological differentiation in numbers of vertebrae, dorsal and anal fin rays; and 3) level of mtDNAdifferentiation. The eastern Pacific agujon needlefish is found from the Gulf of California, Mexico, to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.
Bruce B Collette - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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needlefishes teleostei Belonidae
2016Co-Authors: David A Boughton, Bruce B Collette, Amy R MccuneAbstract:The jaw morphology of needlefishes (Beloniformes: Belonidae) passes through dis- tinctive ontogenetic stages. When hatched, larvae have short jaws of equal length. The lower jaw first elongates to produce a "halfbeak" form, then the upper jaw elongates to produce the adult "needlenose" morphology. Onset and duration of the halfbeak stage vary among belonid species. We tested the hypothesis that heterochronic evolution produced this diversity in jaw morphology. First, a cladogram was developed for 27 belonid species. Ontogenetic trajectories for upper and lower jaw elongation were determined for 18 of these species. For upper and lower jaw elongation, trajectories of these 18 species were statistically compared to determine character transitions, which were then mapped onto the cladogram. The results showed that the growth trajectories of upper and lower jaws changed independently of each other, and that neoteny and acceleration occurred repeatedly during belonid evolution. Evidence suggests post- displacement and predisplacement were also important mechanisms. The resulting morpholog- ical diversity may be interpreted as adaptations to food availability, because jaw morphology (halfbeak vs. needlenose) seems to be correlated with feeding modes (planktivory vs. piscivory). (Heterochrony; ontogenetic trajectory; Belonidae; jaw morphology; character coding; M-coding.)
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belone countermani a new miocene needlefish Belonidae from the st marys formation of calvert cliffs maryland
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 2013Co-Authors: Bruce B Collette, Vivianne B Santanna, Stephen J GodfreyAbstract:Abstract Belone is distinguished from other genera of Belonidae mostly because of its complete cephalic sensory system, presence of gill rakers, vomerine teeth, and the pattern of its dentition. This eastern North Atlantic genus contains two extant species and at least three described fossil species from Lower Oligocene and Upper Miocene formations in Europe. †Belone countermani, sp. nov., a new species of needlefish from the Tortonian Upper Miocene St. Marys Formation of Calvert Cliffs (Maryland, U.S.A.), is described herein based on a well-preserved three-dimensional associated pair of upper and lower jaws. This rostrum represents the only record of this genus in the western North Atlantic Ocean. †Belone countermani is characterized by a unique dental pattern on the dentary. The dentary commissural region is filled with several rows of small accessory teeth (five to seven) that gradually decrease in number of rows; along the symphysial region there is one inner row of conical teeth and one external row ...
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molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of transisthmian and amphi atlantic needlefishes Belonidae strongylura and tylosurus perspectives on new world marine speciation
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2004Co-Authors: Eldredge Bermingham, Heidi M Banford, Bruce B ColletteAbstract:Abstract Phylogenetic relationships among New World and eastern Atlantic species in the belonid genera Strongylura and Tylosurus were hypothesized using 3689 bp of nucleotide sequence; including the entire mitochondrial (mtDNA) ATP synthase 6 and 8 genes; partial cytochrome b ; 12S and 16S ribosomal genes; and introns and exons, 2 and 3 of the nuclear-encoded creatine kinase B gene. Concordant mtDNA and nuclear genealogies permitted well-supported inference of species relationships within Strongylura and Tylosurus , and of the chronology of diversification in the two genera. Our phylogenetic hypothesis permitted an assessment of Rosen’s [Syst. Zool. 24 (1975) 431] model of species diversification across the eastern Atlantic to eastern Pacific marine biogeographic track. The spatial predictions of the Rosen model were generally supported, but not the temporal predictions. Furthermore, long branches leading to terminal Belonidae indicated that many species have persisted for millions of years or that nucleotide substitution rates were elevated for some clades. Though heterogeneity of nucleotide substitution rate was indicated across some belonid lineages, molecular clock estimates were used to hypothesize biogeographic scenarios for Strongylura across the eastern Pacific and Atlantic region. Furthermore, use of a molecular clock indicated; that early diversification among contemporary Strongylura may have been initiated by changes in Atlantic Ocean circulation precipitated by closure of the Tethys Sea; and provided approximate dates for the isolation of the freshwater species on the American continents.
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status of the eastern pacific agujon needlefish tylosurus pacificus steindachner 1876 beloniformes Belonidae
Revista De Biologia Tropical, 2001Co-Authors: Bruce B Collette, Heidi M BranfordAbstract:Tylosurus pacificus (Steindachner, 1876) is confirmed to have full species rank based on: 1) sympatry with T. acus melanotus at Isla Gorgona and in Panama; 2) level of morphological differentiation in numbers of vertebrae, dorsal and anal fin rays; and 3) level of mtDNAdifferentiation. The eastern Pacific agujon needlefish is found from the Gulf of California, Mexico, to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.
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phylogenetic relationships of new world needlefishes teleostei Belonidae and the biogeography of transitions between marine and freshwater habitats
Copeia, 2001Co-Authors: Nathan R Lovejoy, Bruce B ColletteAbstract:Abstract The New World clade of needlefishes (Belonidae) includes species distributed along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Americas and in freshwater basins of Central and South America. Phylogenetic relationships among 13 species of the group were assessed based on data from two nuclear genes (RAG2 and Tmo-4C4), two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA), and a small suite of morphological characters. In general, there was concordance between separate analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial characters, and RAG2 was found to be a particularly useful gene for phylogeny reconstruction. Morphology supported an alternative phylogenetic pattern, but this was probably a result of the small number of characters and the lack of a thorough anatomical survey. The total evidence hypothesis divides the group into two major clades. In one, Pseudotylosurus from freshwater in South America is most closely related to a pair of Strongylura species from the western and eastern Atlantic; in the other, Potamor...
Amy R Mccune - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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needlefishes teleostei Belonidae
2016Co-Authors: David A Boughton, Bruce B Collette, Amy R MccuneAbstract:The jaw morphology of needlefishes (Beloniformes: Belonidae) passes through dis- tinctive ontogenetic stages. When hatched, larvae have short jaws of equal length. The lower jaw first elongates to produce a "halfbeak" form, then the upper jaw elongates to produce the adult "needlenose" morphology. Onset and duration of the halfbeak stage vary among belonid species. We tested the hypothesis that heterochronic evolution produced this diversity in jaw morphology. First, a cladogram was developed for 27 belonid species. Ontogenetic trajectories for upper and lower jaw elongation were determined for 18 of these species. For upper and lower jaw elongation, trajectories of these 18 species were statistically compared to determine character transitions, which were then mapped onto the cladogram. The results showed that the growth trajectories of upper and lower jaws changed independently of each other, and that neoteny and acceleration occurred repeatedly during belonid evolution. Evidence suggests post- displacement and predisplacement were also important mechanisms. The resulting morpholog- ical diversity may be interpreted as adaptations to food availability, because jaw morphology (halfbeak vs. needlenose) seems to be correlated with feeding modes (planktivory vs. piscivory). (Heterochrony; ontogenetic trajectory; Belonidae; jaw morphology; character coding; M-coding.)
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heterochrony in jaw morphology of needlefishes teleostei Belonidae
Systematic Biology, 1991Co-Authors: David A Boughton, Bruce B Collette, Amy R MccuneAbstract:The jaw morphology of needlefishes (Beloniformes : Belonidae) passes through distinctive ontogenetic stages. When hatched, larvae have short jaws of equal length. The lower jaw first elongates to produce a halfbeak form, then the upper jaw elongates to produce the adult needlenose morphology. Onset and duration of the halfbeak stage vary among belonid species. We tested the hypothesis that heterochronic evolution produced this diversity in jaw morphology