Range extension of helminth parasites of profundulus spp. (Teleostei: Profundulidae) from southern Mexico and Central America

Abstract

In this paper we provide new records and range extensions for four intestinal helminth species parasites of profundulid fishes. Our data extends the known geographical distribution of these species from Guerrero, southern Mexico to nuclear Central American countries and southward to Honduras. Three of the helminth species here studied are specific to profundulids, the digenean Paracreptotrema profundulusi and the nematodes Spinitectus humbertoi and Rhabdochona salgadoi. Our data confirm that these species are distributed only with profundulids and within the geographical range of this fish family. Therefore, the data presented in this study partially contributes to empirically support the idea that each fish family has “its own” suite of parasites that are not shared with other fish families, and that freshwater fish parasites are distributed within the limits of the range of the fish family.