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Abstract
The barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis is an epizoic found on the edge of the fins of cetaceans. The purpose of this study was to improve information about X. globicipitis on small cetaceans of Brazil, with special reference to incidentally-caught species on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State (21º35' - 22º25'S), from 1989 to 1998. Along the Brazilian coast, the presence of X. globicipitis was recorded on Pontoporia blainvillei, Sotalia fluviatilis and Tursiops truncatus. On the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro, the prevalence of infestation was 1.04% for P. blainvillei, 10.13% for S. fluviatilis and 20.00% for T. truncatus. The individuals of X. globicipitis attached to the fins of these small cetaceans were all adults. The difference in infestation between P. blainvillei and S. fluviatilis may be related to differences in swimming velocity and/or preferential habitat. The epizoics can be used as biological tags, discriminating home range and movement patterns of the cetacean species and populations.Downloads
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Copyright (c) 2000 Ana Paula Madeira Di Beneditto, Renata Maria Arruda Ramos

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