Guillén-Hernández S, González-Salas C, Pech-Puch D, Villegas-Hernández H
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Departamento de Biología Marina, Km. 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. Postal 4-116, Itzimná Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Dis Aquat Organ. 2018 Aug 28;130(1):45-50. doi: 10.3354/dao03252.
The red octopus Octopus maya Voss et Solís-Ramírez, 1966 is an endemic species and one of the most important fishery resources of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Due to its economic importance and the fact that in recent years interest in farming this species has increased, several initiatives have been implemented to study its biology and requirements for cultivation. Parasites represent an important component of the biology of the red octopus, as they can have an impact on both wild and cultivated populations. A total of 44 O. maya specimens were sampled from the fishing ports of Ría Lagartos and Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatán; specimens were measured and subsequently subjected to histological analysis of the buccal masses where cestode larvae (Prochristianella sp.) were found in the anterior salivary glands. Results of a chi-squared test showed that specimen size class and infestation levels (parasite abundance) were significantly correlated, with parasite damage levels more pronounced in larger animals. The damage caused to the anterior salivary glands by this parasite could have serious implications for feeding and reproductive success of O. maya.
红色章鱼（Octopus maya Voss et Solís-Ramírez，1966）是一种特有物种，也是墨西哥尤卡坦半岛最重要的渔业资源之一。由于其经济重要性，且近年来对该物种进行养殖的兴趣有所增加，人们已采取多项举措来研究其生物学特性及养殖要求。寄生虫是红色章鱼生物学的一个重要组成部分，因为它们会对野生和养殖种群产生影响。总共从尤卡坦州的里阿·拉加托斯港和齐拉姆·德·布拉沃港的渔港采集了44个马氏章鱼标本；对标本进行测量，随后对口腔团块进行组织学分析，在前唾液腺中发现了绦虫幼虫（Prochristianella sp.）。卡方检验结果表明，标本大小等级与感染水平（寄生虫丰度）显著相关，在较大的动物中寄生虫损害水平更为明显。这种寄生虫对前唾液腺造成的损害可能会对马氏章鱼的摄食和繁殖成功产生严重影响。
