First report of the scavenging isopod Natatolana neglecta (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) feeding on a sea turtle


Опубликован: May 28, 2019
OHIANA REVUELTA
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1025-7040
FRANCESC DOMÈNECH
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7310-4287
STEPHEN KEABLE
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1754-6750
RAÚL MÍGUEZ-LOZANO
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8716-3360
Аннотация

A juvenile male loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was found dead in April 2015, entangled in a trammel net on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Post-mortem examination revealed the presence of ninety-five isopods dispersed in the coelomic cavity, and inside the oesophagus and skull. All individuals found scavenging on the sea turtle were identified as Natatolana neglecta (Hansen, 1890) (Isopoda: Cirolanidae). Genetic analysis of the isopod gut contents showed that they were feeding on turtle tissue, confirming that N. neglecta can also attack dead sea turtles. This study shows the value of cirolanids as potential indicators of the cause of death in stranded sea turtles.

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Биографии авторов
OHIANA REVUELTA, Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia

Marine Zoology Unit

Post doctoral researcher

FRANCESC DOMÈNECH, Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia

Marine Zoology Unit

PhD student

STEPHEN KEABLE, Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street Sydney NSW 2010 Australia.
Dr Stephen Keable
Collection Manager | Marine Invertebrates | Australian Museum Research Institute
RAÚL MÍGUEZ-LOZANO, Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia

Marine Zoology Unit

PhD student