Epizoic barnacle (Xenobalanus globicipitis) infestations in several cetacean species in south-eastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

The sessile barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis was observed on multiple cetacean species during field surveys off the northern coast of São Paulo state, Brazil. However, the occurrence of X. globicipitis in cetaceans in Brazilian waters has been, up to now, scarce. In the present study, this epibiont is reported for the first time in orcas (Orcinus orca), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) from south-eastern Brazil. Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have also been infested. This is the first world record of X. globicipitis in Balaenoptera brydei and Stenella frontalis. All records were photographed and may reveal changes in this barnacle’s settlement in 2018 and 2019. The possible causes for these infestations are discussed, including anthropogenic activities and recent oceanic events.

KEYWORDS:

• Epibiosis
• coastal
• dispersal
• invertebrates
• mammals

Acknowledgements

This is scientific PROBAV contribution number 3. The authors are grateful to Capt. Wagner Bras and Mst. Marcone Santos for their help during expeditions. We thank Francisco E. L. Nascimento (Museu de Zoologia/USP) for the map assistance. This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) under Grant 2018/00488-7.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

No animal testing was performed during this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo: [Grant Number 2018/00488-7].