Metazoan Parasites and Other Symbionts of Cetaceans in the Caribbean

The parasite fauna in cetaceans from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the larger Caribbean region is poorly known. We provide the first records for parasite biodiversity among a diverse assemblage of cetaceans from the Caribbean Sea. Internal and external parasites and commensals were collected...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of parasitology 1998-10, Vol.84 (5), p.939-946
Main Authors: Mignucci-Giannoni, Antonio A., Hoberg, Eric P., Siegel-Causey, Doug, Williams, Ernest H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biological taxonomies
Caribbean Region
Cetacea
Cetaceans
Commensals
Crustacea - classification
Dolphins
Dolphins - classification
Dolphins - parasitology
Ectoparasitic Infestations - parasitology
Ectoparasitic Infestations - veterinary
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Helminthiasis, Animal - parasitology
Helminths - classification
Life Cycles-Survey
Male
Marine mammals
Nematodes
Parasites
Parasitology
Sea water ecosystems
Spermatozoa
Symbiosis
Synecology
Trematoda
Whales
Whales - classification
Whales - parasitology
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Summary:The parasite fauna in cetaceans from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the larger Caribbean region is poorly known. We provide the first records for parasite biodiversity among a diverse assemblage of cetaceans from the Caribbean Sea. Internal and external parasites and commensals were collected from stranded whales and dolphins salvaged in Puerto Rico, the United States and British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and Venezuela between 1989 and 1997. A total of 47 individuals of 16 species of whales and dolphins (15 odontocetes and 1 mysticete) was examined. Overall, parasites and commensals were found in 34 (72.3%) animals, representing 13 species of odontocetes and 1 mysticete. Eighteen species of endoparasitic helminths were found, including 8 species of nematodes, 2 digeneans, 6 cestodes, and 2 acanthocephalans. Three species of whale-lice and 2 species of barnacles were also collected.
ISSN:0022-3395
1937-2345
DOI:10.2307/3284625