The invasive copepod Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758 (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Lernaeidae): First record for Neuquén River, Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

We report the first record of the copepod Lernaea cyprinacea (Linnaeus, 1758) parasitizing Percichthys trucha (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840) in the Neuquén River (Patagonia, Argentina). One specimen of P. trucha was found parasitized by two females of L. cyprinacea. Our record of L. cyprinacea in Neuquén River represents an increase of the known distribution range for this invasive species, which is apparently moving upstream in the Negro River Basin. This is the first record of L. cyprinacea in Neuquén Province.