TAXONOMY OF PISCIAN CESTODES OF THE GENUS Capingentoides (CARYOPHYLLIDEA- LYTOCESTIDAE) FROM FRESHWATER FISHES OF AGRA DISTRICT (UTTAR PRADESH), INDIA

The current morphotaxonomic study includes a regional survey for local distributed freshwater fishes of the Yamuna river with its tributaries for piscian cestodes in the Agra District region (U.P.), India. This sampling search excursion was conducted from March 2020 to July 2020 during the summer and pre-monsoon season. Theoretically, this season is adaptive for cestodes maturation cycle and prevalence of infection in host fish. During sampling, research guidelines and experimental regulations followed, thus the fishes were trapped and caught by laying nets on selected sampling sites with the help of local fishermen and with this, some mature freshwater fishes were collected from the local fish market. Attempts were made to find parasites in local fish as well as in uncommon fish. More than 120 fish of 8 taxa (fish species of Clarias batrachus, Channa punctatus, Wallago attu, Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Ailia coila, Mystus tengara, Tor tor etc.) were dissected and examined for cestodes, in which total four cestodes were collected from the infected intestine of the Clarias batrachus (walking catfish) and Heteropneustes fossilis (stinging catfish). In which, only two identical cestodes out of four, Caryophyllidean parasites of the genus Capingentoides has been described here from the host fish Clarias batrachus (Linn.1758). Parasites obtained from the infected host fishes were preserved in 5% formalin in the form of holotype specimens in laboratory’s controlled environment for further study. This types of specimen are beneficial for basal taxonomic descriptions (including morphological characterization) and biostatistical analysis. Taxonomic studies of tapeworms show that parasitic diversity can be seen at a certain seasonal period in the Yamuna river and its tributaries of the Agra region. Morphotaxonomic key characters to the genera of finding species have reported as Body elongated and flat. Scolex smooth, oval or globular and truncated anteriorly. Testes numerous, rounded or oval. Ovary H-shaped or transversely elongated band-shaped structure. Vitelline follicles cortical and partly into medullary parenchyma. Cirrus sac situated at the posterior end of the body. Eggs oval and non-operculated. This study provides a scientific approach to understanding the diversity of piscian cestode parasites of some freshwater fish species found in the Yamuna river based on morphotaxonomy.