Co-introduction of ancyrocephalid monogeneans on their invasive host, the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepéde, 1802) in South Africa

Abstract Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) were sampled from three provinces (Eastern Cape EC, North West NWP and KwaZulu-Natal KZN) in South Africa to assess for parasite diversity and community composition. Morphological evaluation of the sampled parasite specimens provided evidence for the first record of five monogeneans from the family Ancyrocephalidae: Clavunculus bursatus (Mueller, 1963), Onchocleidus dispar (Mueller, 1936), Onchocleidus furcatus (Mueller, 1937), Onchocleidus principalis (Mizelle, 1936) and Syncleithrium fusiformis (Mueller, 1934) from the African continent. Community composition differed between localities. Clavunculus bursatus were only sampled from the EC and KZN, O. dispar and O. principalis were only sampled from the EC, O. furcatus was only sampled from the NWP and KZN localities and S. fusiformis only from KZN. Prevalence was 100% at all localities. Data from this study support the enemy release hypothesis as many of the parasites reported from the native range of M. salmoides were not collected.