Occurrence of Pennella filosa (Copepoda: Pennellidae) on the Minke Whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, from the Bay of Fundy

Abstract

Seventeen parasitic copepods of the family Pennellidae were found on a Minke Whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, captured at Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. The characters of five specimens examined in detail agree with published descriptions of Pennella filosa. The characters of two previously described species of Penella (P. balaenopterae and P. antarctica), also recorded from cetacea, fall within the variation of P. filosa and they both may be synonymous with it.