First Record of Mugilicola bulbosa Tripathi, 1960 (Ergasilidae: Cyclopoida) on the Gills of Greenback Mullet Planiliza subviridis (Valenciennes) from Shatt Al-Arab River, Southern Iraq

Occurrence and some ecological aspects of Mugilicola bulbosa Tripathi, 1960 were studied. A total of 63 specimens of Planiliza subviridis (Valenciennes) were collected from Garmat Ali River, Basrah Province. (30° 34′ to 30° 35′ N; 47° 44′ to 47° 34 E′) from October 2023 till January 2024. The copepod was recorded from the gill arches during three months. Total body length was 3.686-4.069 (3.875) mm. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between males and females of fish host in all the studied traits. The highest prevalence of infestation was recorded in November (35%), while the lowest value was during October (0%). The high intensity of infestation was recorded during December (2.6), while the lowest intensity was in October (no fishes were infected). The high intensity and prevalence of infestation appear in the longest group of fishes (15-21cm). Mean length of egg sac (1.3) mm, of this mesoparasite represents the second species of Mugilicola from P. subviridis. The finding of M. bulbosa in Iraq represents a new geographical record for the species.