New records on Acanthocephalans from California sea lions Zalophus Californianus (Pinnipedia, Otariidae) from California, USA

Abstract

New Records on Acanthocephalans from California Sea Lions Zalophus californianus (Pinnipedia, Otariidae) from California, USA. Lisitsyna, O. I. Kudlai, O., Spraker, T. R., Kuzmina, T. A. — To increase the currently limited knowledge addressing acanthocephalans parasitizing California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 33 animals including pups, juvenile and adult males and females from the Marine Mammal Center (TMMC), Sausalito, California, USA were examined. Totally, 2,268 specimens of acanthocephalans representing fi ve species from the genera Andracantha (A. phalacrocoracis and Andracantha sp.), Corynosoma (C. strumosum and C. obtuscens) and Profi licollis (P. altmani) were found. Profi licollis altmani and A. phalacrocoracis, predominantly parasitize fi sh-eating birds; they were registered in Z. californianus for the fi rst time. Prevalence and intensity of California sea lion infection and transmission of acanthocephalans in these hosts of diff erent age groups were analyzed and discussed. We provide brief morphological descriptions of the fi ve species of acanthocephalan found in California sea lions