Octopus, Cuvier, 1798

Marmolejo-Guzman, Linda Yacsiri G., Iv, David, Hern, an G., andez-Mena, Castellanos-Martínez, Sheila & Aguirre-Macedo, M. Leopoldina, 2022, Linking phenotypic to genotypic metacestodes from Octopus maya of the Yucatan Peninsula, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 19, pp. 44-55 : 45

2.1. Octopus collection and parasitological examination

Octopus samples were collected (15 host/locality) from September to December 2017, from the local fishery developed in Yucatan, Mexico, by traditional fishing methods (“garete” fishing) located near Sisal (21 ◦ 10 ′ N, 90 ◦ 1 ′ W), Progreso (21 ◦ 19 ′ N, 89 ◦ 42 ′ W), Dzilam de Bravo (21 ◦ 19 ′ N, 88 ◦ 35 ′ W), and Rio Lagartos (21 ◦ 24 ′ N, 88 ◦ 02 ′ W) ( Fig. 1 ). The specimens were immediately transported in coolers to the Laboratorio de Patologia Acuatica at the Centro de Investigacion ´y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Polit´ecnico Nacional (CINVESTAV, Merida City, Yucatan, Mexico). Once in the laboratory, the dorsal mantle length ( DML) and total length (TL) of each octopus were measured to the nearest millimeter (mm) with a measuring tape (± 0.1 mm); while the total weight (g) was recorded to the nearest 0.1 g with an Ohaus E 0B120 weighing scale (± 0.01 g). A longitudinal cut in the ventral mantle was performed to remove the digestive tract (buccal mass, digestive gland, ink sac, intestine, esophagus, and caecum), gills, eyes, and muscle to examine for metacestodes under a stereomicroscope (Motic SMZ–168) according to Guill´en-Hern´andez et al. (2018a). No cestodes were found alive. Cestodes were removed from the tissues and fixed in formalin for phenotypic analysis and in 96% ethanol for molecular analysis .

Figures

Fig. 1. Sampling localities where specimens of Octopus maya were collected in Yucatan, Mexico.