A survey of the epibiota of hawksbill sea turtles ( Eretmochelys impricata) of Mona Island, Puerto Rico

Epibiotic organisms inhabiting the surfaces of Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus are described for Mona and Monito Islands, Puerto Rico. Turtles were captured to depths of 30 m in coastal foraging areas, composed of coral reef and cliff wall habitats. Epibiont samples from 105 turtles ranging from 20 to 85 cm (straight carapace length) were collected, sorted, preserved, and identified to the lowest possible taxon. The relative frequency of each taxon was compared between habitat types. Epibiota of 12 animal and 4 algal phyla were identified, of which some groups were new findings for marine turtles, resulting in the highest phylogenetic diversity reported so far. Most epibiont fouling was located posteriorly on the carapace, plastron; and skin of the turtles. Nine taxa were significantly more frequent on turtles from coral reef and two in cliff wall habitat. Epibiota of non-nesting E. imbricata comprise a diverse community, which provides information about its host.