The copepod Balaenophilus manatorum (Ortíz, Lalana and Torres, 1992) (Harpacticoida), an epibiont of the Caribbean manatee

Abstract

The harpacticoid copepod Balaenophilus manatorum (Ortíz, Lalana and Torres, 1992) was originally described based on a few specimens collected from a single manatee in Cuba. Since its description it has been recorded exclusively as a symbiont of sea turtles worldwide; there were no further records of this species from the manatee and this association remained unconfirmed. During a long-term survey on the biology and ecology of the manatee Trichechus manatus manatus L. in Mexican waters of the western Caribbean, epibionts were collected from 54 individuals, including males, females and juveniles. Many specimens of B. manatorum were recorded from several manatees and analysed morphologically; a comparison is made with specimens from turtles of the Mexican Pacific. Manatees captured in two different bay systems were examined, but only those from Chetumal Bay were positive for copepods. Infestation comprised 14 manatees (26%), eight females and six males; incidence was higher than that previously found for other crustacean epibionts. Copepods were found as soft yellowish masses arranged along skin folds and wrinkles of the muzzle, the base of the fins, and the nipple area; there was no evidence of skin damage caused by the copepod. The presence of B. manatorum on manatees is confirmed and the first data are provided on the prevalence of this epibiont in one of the main populations of this mammal in the western Caribbean.

Keywords:

• Copepoda
• Balaenophilus manatorum
• marine mammals
• epibionts
• Caribbean manatees

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Araceli Adabache, Universidad de Aguascalientes, for processing the specimens and guiding our SEM observations of these copepods. Rosa Ma. Hernández deposited and catalogued the specimens in the collection of ECOSUR. Rafael Estrada-Anaya prepared the line drawing of the manatee profile and, together with Daniel Robelo-Martínez and Gerardo Rodríguez-Martínez, helped in capturing manatees in the field. Humberto Bahena-Basave provided the field photographs. Marco Benítez-García from African Safari and Antonio Mignucci-Giannoni from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico clinically evaluated the captured manatees and obtained samples of copepods. This research was supported by the projects SEMARNAT- CONACYT 2002-C01-1128, and by Dolphin Discovery Group. Sampling permits supporting our collections were provided by the Dirección General de Vida Silvestre: NUM.SGPA/DGVS/03144 (21 April 2004 to 30 April 2005); NUM. SGPA/DGVS/04513 (6 May 2005 to 10 May 2006); and NUM.SGPA/DGVS/03670/06 (9 June 2006 to 30 June 2007). The comments from two anonymous reviewers greatly improved an earlier version of this contribution.