First Authentic Report of the Turtle Barnacle Cylindrolepas darwiniana Since its Description in 1916

• Published in: Journal of crustacean biology Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 292 - 295
• Main Authors: Frick, Michael G., Zardus, John D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Netherlands The Crustacean Society 01-05-2010; BRILL; Crustacean Society
• Subjects: cirriped; Commensals; Coronuloidea; Crustaceans; Cylindrolepas darwiniana; hawksbill turtle; loggerhead turtle; Loggerhead turtles; Marine; National museums; Oceans; Platylepas; Sea turtles; Seas; Specimens; Systematics, Biogeography and Phylogeny; Turtles; Type specimens; ASW, USA, Florida; ASW, USA, Georgia; ASW, Panama, Bocas del Toro
• ISSN: 0278-0372; 1937-240X
• DOI: 10.1651/09-3161.1

An analysis of museum specimens reveals that reports of the chelonophilic barnacle Cylindrolepas darwiniana are misidentifications of the similar turtle barnacle Platylepas decorata. As a result, contemporary collections from loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles represent the first report of this turtle barnacle since its description nearly a century ago. Novel morphological characters that clearly distinguish C. darwiniana from other turtle barnacles have been ascertained from the recent specimens and are reported.