Olive Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys olivacea(Eschscholtz, 1829) from Brazil as a New Host ofPyelosomum cochlearLooss 1899 (Digenea: Pronocephalidae)

Abstract

Here we present the occurrence of Pyelosomum cochlear Looss 1899 in the urinary bladder of an olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829) from Brazil. This parasite species has previously been reported only from Chelonia mydas from Egypt, the United States (including Puerto Rico), Panama, and Costa Rica. This paper reports the first occurrence of P. cochlear parasitizing L. olivacea and the first occurrence of this parasite in the western South Atlantic.