Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Publication Date
1-24-2023
Volume
103
Keywords
Alebion carchariae, Ascension Island, Carcharhinus galapagensis, parasitic copepod
DOI
10.1017/S0025315422001060
ISSN
00253154
Abstract
The first record of the parasite Alebion carchariae in the waters of Ascension Island collected from Galapagos sharks, Carcharhinus galapagensis (Carcharhinidae), is described. No previous record of this parasite exists for Ascension Island, nor have Galapagos sharks previously been listed as a host. Specimens of A. carchariae were identified using morphological techniques and DNA barcoding of the cytochrome c oxidase I subunit (COI) gene. This study provides the first COI barcodes for this species and a brief review of known hosts. We recommend further research to understand the life cycle of this parasite, its plasticity in terms of host/habitat selection, and to determine the implications of its presence on the hosts it inhabits.
E-ISSN
14697769
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Orrell, Danielle L.; Questel, Jennifer M.; Smoot, Caitlin A.; Simpson, Tiffany; and Hussey, Nigel E.. (2023). Alebion carchariae (Copepod: Caligidae) host plasticity and distribution: A new host and locality record from Ascension Island. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 103.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/ibiopub/170