[Preliminary study of the larvae (Nematode: Ascaridida) Paralichthys orbignyyanus parasite (Valenciennes, 1839) and Paralichthys patagonicus (Pisces: Pleuronectiformes)].

The present paper deals with a preliminary study of different larvae of nematoda found in two species of fish Paralichthys orbignyanus and Paralichthys patagonicus. In P. orbignyanus the genus Terranova type A was found. Both Anisakis type I and Hysterothylacium were present in P. patagonicus. Different types of larvae belonging to genera Terranova (B and B'), Contracaecum (A and B) and Raphidascaris occurred in both P. patagonicus and P. orbignyanus. The specimens of Nematoda were described and the corresponding morphometric indexes were determined. The abundance of Nematoda obtained in relation to the diet of the flounders led us to conclude that P. orbignyanus feeds basically on crabs and fish, while P. patagonicus has a more diverse diet.