Myxobolus mississippiensis n. sp. (Myxosporea) from Gills of Lepomis macrochirus in Mississippi

Myxobolus mississippiensis n. sp. is described from gill lamellae of the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) inhabiting the Pascagoula River System, Mississippi. Fresh spores measure 16.4-18.7 μm long, 3.9-6.2 μm wide, and 4.7-6.2 μm thick. Spore width to length ratio is 1:3.2. Polar capsules are 5.5-7.8 μm long and 1.5-2.3 μm wide, with 9-10 filament coils that when extruded measure 42.1 ± 4.2 μm. This parasite is unique among known species of Myxobolus,/i> in having spores that are lenticular in frontal view.

Food of the Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, from Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico

The diet of the Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound has been examined for the first time. Over 83 taxa were encountered, or more than were reported from croaker in any other region. We also found 60 taxa, 36 of which overlapped with the above, in croaker from various offshore stations in the Gulf of Mexico. In Mississippi Sound the frequency of occurrcnce of items revealed primarily crustaceans followed by polychaetes, molluscs, fishes, and less common items, and, in the open Gulf, molluscs appeared slightly more often than in inshore croaker and than polychaetes in offshore fish. The diets were assessed according to length of fish, season, depth of water, and locality.