New Parasite from Kemp’s Ridley

The loss of Caveman, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle that died of sepsis and pneumonia following a cold-stun event last fall, was difficult for the entire staff, but we are continuing to learn about Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and issues that effect their health and natural history.  During the necropsy (animal autopsy) we found an Acanthlocephalin parasite attached to muscles outside of the body cavity which has tentatively been identified as Bolbosoma vasculosum.

Not only would this be a new parasite-host relationship, but the first report of any acanthlocephalin from Kemp’s.  Further work is being done to characterize the parasite.