An annotated list of fish parasites (Copepoda, Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda and Nematoda) collected from Emperors and Emperor Bream (Lethrinidae) in New Caledonia further highlights parasite biodiversity estimates on coral reef fish

A comprehensive study of parasites from 17 species of emperors and emperor bream (Lethrinidae) in New Caledonia's lagoons reveals a rich biodiversity, with an estimated 340 metazoan parasite species associated with lethrinids—averaging 13 per fish species. The research identified 52 parasite species at the species level, including 40 new host records, and highlighted significant biogeographical differences when compared to Heron Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Notably, only five parasite taxa were shared between New Caledonia and Heron Island for a single fish species, Lethrinus miniatus. The study also confirmed that parasite biodiversity in lethrinids is comparable to that in groupers (Serranidae Epinephelinae) in the same region, supporting earlier predictions of 10 parasite species per coral reef fish species. Despite extensive sampling and identification efforts, only 13% of lethrinid parasites are currently known in New Caledonia, underscoring the need for further exploration.

JUSTINE, J.-L., BEVERIDGE, I., BOXSHALL, G. A., BRAY, R. A., MORAVEC, F., & WHITTINGTON, I. D. (2010). An annotated list of fish parasites (Copepoda, Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda and Nematoda) collected from Emperors and Emperor Bream (Lethrinidae) in New Caledonia further highlights parasite biodiversity estimates on coral reef fish. Zootaxa, 2691(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2691.1.1