The stunning diversity of cichlid fishes has greatly enhanced our understanding of speciation and radiation. Little is known about the evolution of cichlid parasites. Parasites are abundant components of biodiversity, whose diversity typically exceeds that of their hosts. In the first comprehensive phylogenetic parasitological analysis of a vertebrate radiation, we study monogenean parasites infecting tropheine cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. Monogeneans are flatworms usually infecting the body surface and gills of fishes. In contrast to many other parasites, they depend only on a single host species to complete their lifecycle. Our spatially comprehensive combined nuclear-mitochondrial DNA dataset of the parasites covering almost all tropheine host species (N = 18), reveals species-rich parasite assemblages and shows consistent host-specificity. Statistical comparisons of host and parasite phylogenies based on distance and topology-based tests demonstrate significant congruence and suggest that host-switching is rare. Molecular rate evaluation indicates that species of Cichlidogyrus probably diverged synchronically with the initial radiation of the tropheines. They further diversified through within-host speciation into an overlooked species radiation. The unique life history and specialisation of certain parasite groups has profound evolutionary consequences. Hence, evolutionary parasitology adds a new dimension to the study of biodiversity hotspots like Lake Tanganyika.

Although Lake Tanganyika hosts the most diverse endemic cichlid fish assemblage, its monogenean parasite fauna has hardly been documented. The cichlid tribe Tropheini has generated great interest because of its systematic position within the Haplochromini s.l. and its diversity in trophic morphology, reproductive behaviour and population structure. It has the potential to host a diverse Monogenea fauna. Here, we describe the first Cichlidogyrus spp.: Cichlidogyrus steenbergei sp. n., Cichlidogyrus irenae sp. n. and Cichlidogyrus gistelincki sp. n. The three host species, Limnotilapia dardennii, Ctenochromis horei and Gnathochromis pfefferi, are all infected by a single unique Cichlidogyrus sp. The genital and haptoral structure of the new species suggests a close relationship, which might mirror the close affinities between the hosts within the Tropheini. Based on haptoral configuration, the new species belong to a morphological group within the genus containing parasites both of West African cichlids and of Haplochromini, and hence, do not represent a new organisation of the attachment organ (as has recently been described of congeners infecting the ectodine cichlid Ophthalmotilapia).

Background. Despite the importance of Lake Tanganyika's biodiversity for science and the livelihoods of the riparian people, high-resolution surveys of the fish biodiversity are sparse and fragmentary, especially along the western (Congolese) shoreline. The coast suffers locally from intensive human activities and lacks adequate protective measures or nature reserves. However, in view of the intra-lacustrine endemism of this fish fauna, conservation needs to be managed lake-wide at a fine scale, necessitating detailed inventories on fish species distribution. The study aims at updating knowledge on fish diversity and distribution along the north-western and central western shores of Lake Tanganyika. Materials and methods. Fish specimens were collected using gill-and seine nets, by snorkelling and SCUBA diving, and through purchases on the local markets. Results. Over 28 locations were sampled, and 84 cichlid-and 30 non-cichlid fish species (belonging to Protopteridae, Clupeidae, Cyprinidae, Alestidae, Claroteidae, Clariidae, Malapteruridae, Mochokidae, Poeciliidae, Latidae, and Mastacembelidae) collected. Conclusion. Our records substantially expand the known range of fish species in a range of habitats. As numerous specimens are hard to assign to nominal species, a taxonomic revision of a number of genera is underway. It should take into account intraspecific geographic variation.