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First record of the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) extralimital presence in the Mediterranean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2009

J.J. Bellido ,
J. Cabot ,
J.J. Castillo ,
J.C. Báez ,
J.J. Martín ,
J.L. Mons ,
J. Larios ,
J. Rubia  and
R. Real
J.J. Bellido*
Affiliation:
Aula del Mar de Málaga, Málaga, Spain Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071, Spain
J. Cabot
Affiliation:
Estación Biológica de Doñana, Sevilla, Spain
J.J. Castillo
Affiliation:
Aula del Mar de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
J.C. Báez
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Spain
J.J. Martín
Affiliation:
Aula del Mar de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
J.L. Mons
Affiliation:
Aula del Mar de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
J. Larios
Affiliation:
Asociación Buxus, Motril, Spain
J. Rubia
Affiliation:
Grupo Ecologista Alboran, Motril, Spain
R. Real
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.J. Bellido, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071, Spain email: jjbellido@auladelmar.info
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Abstract

The stranding of a harp seal on the beach in the municipality of Motril (southern Spain) represents the first record of this species in the Mediterranean Sea and the southernmost known report. It was a male which reached the beach very tired and sick, dying after two hours on the sand. The specimen presented three species of epibionts. This is the second species of Arctic seal recorded in the Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords

harp sealMediterranean Seastrandingepibionts
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 2 , January 2009 , e169
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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References

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