MACROPARASITES IN CETACEANS STRANDED ON THE NORTHWESTERN SPANISH ATLANTIC COAST

An extensive parasitological survey was carried out during autopsy of 80 cetaceans representing 8 species within 4 families (Delphinus delph is, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Grampus griseus, Globic ephala melas, Kogia breviceps, Phocoena phocoena and Megaptera novaean gliae) collected on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from Febru ary 1991 to October 1996. Two species of tetraphyllidean cestodes (Phy llobothrium delphini and Monorygma grimaldii), 2 ascaridoid nematodes (Anisakis simplex and A. physeteris), a single spirurid nematode (Cras sicauda magna), 4 rhabditidiform nematodes (Halocercus delphini, H. in vaginatus, Halocercus spp. and Stenurus globicephalae), a single polym orphynae acanthocephalan (Bolbosoma sp.), and 2 amphipods (Isocyamus d elphini and Cyamus boopis) were found. This paper presents 6 new geogr aphic records of macroparasites from cetaceans in temperate Atlanto-Ib erian waters. A total of 11 component parasite species were found, mai nly parasitizing the blubber, mesentery and stomach of cetaceans. Ceta ceans harboured a suite of 4 generalist and 8 specialist species.