Seasonal variations of opisthaptoral hard parts of Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) on parr of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in the River Batnfjordselva,Norway

Seasonal variations in size and shape of the marginal hooks, the anchors and the ventral bar of the opisthaptor of Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 were studied. The G. salaris specimens were collected from parr of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in the River Batnfjordselva, north-western Norway. Samples were taken at roughly monthly intervals during a two-year period. The marginal hooks, the anchors and the ventral bar showed considerable seasonal variation in size, but varied only slightly in shape. The variation in 12 of the 14 characters measured showed a significant regression to the variation in the water temperature. The total length of the marginal hooks of G. salaris can be considerably longer than the previously reported maximum of 40 m for the species.