Preliminary study on a stranding case of Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) on Antalya coast, Turkey, August 2013

Abstract

Abstract The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. On 15 August 2013, an adult female monk seal was found stranded on the coast of Antalya, Turkey. Previously on 6 July 2013, this seal stranded alive in Historic Alanya Shipyard. Gross necropsy was carried out. The seal was emaciated and were nematodes, cestodes and trematodes found in the gastrointestinal tract. Macroscopic findings indicated that hypovolemic shock resulted in death because of internal bleeding which occurred by verminous intoxication or systemic infection. This paper summarizes the preliminary findings of the gross necropsy.

Keywords

• Key words: Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, digestive track parasite infestation.

References

1. Androukaki, E., Adamantopoulou, S., Dendrinos, P., Tounta, E., Kotomatas, S. (1999) Causes of mortality in the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in Greece. Contributions to the Zoology and Ecology of the Eastern Mediterranean Region 1: 405-411.
2. Barnett, J., Knight, A., Stevens, M. (2008) Marine Mammal Medic Handbook, 6th Edition, BDMLR, East Sussex, Great Britain, pp. 93.
3. Dailey, M.D. (2001) Parasitic Diseases, In: CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Second Edition (ed., Dierauf, L. A.), CRC Press, USA, pp. 357-379.
4. Dailey, M.D. (2005) Parasites of marine mammals. In: Marine Parasitology. (ed. Rohde, K.), Csiro Publishing, Australia, pp.408-414.
5. Danyer, E., Özbek, E.Ö., Aytemiz, I., Tonay, A.M. (2013) Preliminary report of a stranding case of Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) on Antalya coast, Turkey, April 2013, J. Black Sea/Mediterr. Environ. 19 (2): 278-282.
6. Gücü, A.C., Sakinan, S., Ok, M. (2009) Occurrence of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, at Olympos-Beydağları National Park, Turkey (Mammalia: Phocidae). Zoology in the Middle East 46 (1): 3-8.
7. Güçlüsoy, H., Kiraç, C.O., Veryeri, N.O., Savas, Y. (2004) Status of the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) in the coastal waters of Turkey. EU Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences 21 (3-4): 201- 210.
8. Raga, J.A., Aznar, F.J., Balbuena, J.A., Fernandez, M. (2002) Parasites In: Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (eds., Perrin, W.F., Wursig, B., Thewissen, J.G.M.), Academic Press, San Diego, USA, pp. 867-875.

9. Öztürk, B. (1992) Mediterranean Monk Seal. Anahtar Kitaplar, Istanbul, 215 pp (in Turkish).
10. Öztürk, B. (2007) Mediterranean Monk Seal and Its Protection. Yalıkavak Çevre ve Fok Araştırmaları Derneği Yayın No:1, Muğla Turkey, 132 pp (in Turkish).