HELMINTHS OF CETACEANS ON THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF BRAZIL

Seventy cetaceans accidentally captured in fishing nets in Rio de Jane iro State (Brazil) were dissected for parasites. Sotalia fluviatilis ( Delphinidae) harbored Braunina cordiformis, Halocercus brasiliensis, a nd Anisakis typica. Tursiops truncatus (Delphinidae) was parasitized b y Nasitrema sp. and B. cordiformis. Steno bredanensis (Delphinidae) ha d only B. cordiformis. Sotalia fluviatilis represents a new host recor d for Braunina cordiformis that is reported for the first time from Br azil. In an attempt to correlate these cetaceans' parasite infections with their food habits, a survey was made on fish of 20 species and Lo ligo sanpaulensis (Cephalopoda) from the same area. Only Bagre bagre, Macrodon ancylodon, and Nebris microps contained Anisakis sp. larvae, a parasite species infecting cetaceans. Lack of parasites in 42 Pontop oria blainvillei (Pontoporiidae) within our study area was probably re lated to the age of the hosts and differences in food habits between y oung and adults.