Southern Stingray, Dasyatis-Americana - Host For A Symbiotic Cleaner Wrasse

    Authors

    F. F. Snelson; S. H. Gruber; F. L. Murru;T. H. Schmid

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Copeia

    Keywords

    Zoology

    Abstract

    The southern stingray, Dasyatis americana, served as host for the bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum, in a symbiotic cleaning relationship at a site near Bimini, Bahamas. Rays were cleaned either while swimming slowly around a cleaning station or when they settled to the bottom and assumed a peculiar, stereotyped pose. Cleaning bouts lasted from less than a minute to 26 min. Both sexes of rays were cleaned and one individual was cleaned four times over 2 d. A trematode ectoparasite was found on the stingrays, but they were not heavily infested and only occasionally had wounds.

    Journal Title

    Copeia

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-1990

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    961

    Last Page

    965

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1990ET22500003

    ISSN

    0045-8511

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