Record of Conchoderma virgatum (Maxilopoda: Lepadidae) occurring on Hydrophis platurus (Reptilia: Elapidae) in Puerto Arista Sanctuary beach, Tonalá, Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

In the tourist zone of the Puerto Arista Sanctuary and 70 meters inside the beach line, on the coast of the state of Chiapas, Mexico, what is known as epibionts of a colony of the barnacle Conchoderma virgatum (Spengler, 1790) was found attached to the caudal section of a live pelagic sea snake, Hydrophis platurus (Linnaeus, 1766). Twenty-three epibionts were counted, each with an average length of 1.2 cm; the snake measured 61.97 cm in length and was subsequently relocated. The record is a novelty for the sanctuary area and unusual to find it in the terrestrial environment.