First reports of Parasistic copepod Pennella balaenoptera on Harbour porpoise.
This crustacean is one of the largest species of copepod within the family Pennellidae, reaching up to 30 cm (12 in) in length. The mandibles form a sucking tube for the mouth through which the species feed and adults also have a pair of segmented sensory antennae.
Despite the hosts for this species are Sei and Minke whales, now, researchers have found an adult, female black sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) stranded on the southern Aegean Sea coast of Turkey.
Thirteen holes made by the copepods were observed in the lateral sides of the porpoise. Although this parasite had been reported in several marine mammals, this is the first report on the harbor porpoise, and in the Aegean Sea.
Reference (Open access) :Danyer et al. 2014. First report of infestation by a parasitic copepod (Pennella balaenopterae) in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from the Aegean Sea: a case report. Veterinarni Medicina
