Relatively little is known about the genus of trematode that causes black spot syndrome, Scaphanocephalus. "Prior to us detecting it in 2017," Johnson says, "it had never been reported from ...

In one, black blotches, like poorly applied lipstick, cover a bass’s mouth as an angler poses for a photo, holding the fish face-first toward the camera.

Noninvasive methods While black spot syndrome can have negative effects on infected fish, the most important consequences could be for reef ecosystems. According to Johnson, black spot syndrome has ...