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Echeneid–sirenian associations, with information on sharksucker diet
Author(s) -
Williams E. H.,
MignucciGiani A. A.,
BunkleyWilliams L.,
Bonde R. K.,
SelfSullivan C.,
Preen A.,
Cockcroft V. G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00236.x
Subject(s) - biology , alimentary tract , manatee , zoology , host (biology) , fishery , ecology , medicine
Association of the sharksucker Echeneis naucrates and whitefin sharksucker E. neucratoides with the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus and the dugong Dugong dugon is presented and discussed. Alimentary tract‐content analysis and field observations suggest that coprophagy (feeding on host faecal material) may be the primary food source for echeneids associated with sirenian hosts.