Fauna parasitária de Leporinus lacustris e Leporinus friderici (Characiformes, Anostomidae) da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

Abstract

The parasite fauna of Leporinus lacustris and Leporinus friderici from the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil, was investigated aiming to make a comparison in terms of composition and structure of the communities. Usual methodologies in the study of parasite fauna were applied. Some patterns were observed, and the faunas can be considered similar in structure. The main difference in the parasite fauna was the use rate of the host by some shared parasite species, represented by abundance. This indicator differed in the fish species showing that, although all are appropriate hosts, their exploitation occurs in different ways.