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Cleaning interactions between shrimps (Palaemonidae) and freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) in the Paraná River, Southeastern Brazil

2014; Volume: 24; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

0936-9902

Domingos Garrone‐Neto, Otto Bismarck Fazzano Gadig, Jansen Zuanon, Lucélia Nobre Carvalho,

Parasite Biology and Host Interactions

We report the first record of cleaning symbiosis between a river stingray, Potamotrygon falkneri, and a palaemonid shrimp, Macrobrachium jelskii. Shrimps of different sizes were observed cleaning adult stingrays partially buried in sandy substrate and shallow water, during the day in the Parana River, Southeastern Brazil, in four events. The presence of ectoparasites in the P. falkneri individuals was not detected during the cleaning interactions, and the shrimps were probably consuming dead tissue and/or mucus. Thus, the cleaning activity of the palaemonid shrimps was considered commensal and not casual. Despite P. falkneri including palaemonid shrimps in its diet, the low diurnal activity of this predator and a possible state of gastric repletion by the stingrays may have facilitated the cleaning interaction. Aqui nos relatamos o primeiro registro de simbiose de limpeza entre uma raia fluvial, Potamotrygon falkneri, e um camarao palemonideo, Macrobrachium jelskii. Camaroes de diferentes tamanhos foram observados limpando raias adultas parcialmente enterradas em substrato arenoso de locais rasos durante o dia, no rio Parana, regiao sudeste do Brasil, em quatro eventos. A presenca de ectoparasitas nos individuos de P. falkneri nao foi detectada durante as interacoes de limpeza e os camaroes provavelmente estavam consumindo tecido morto e/ou muco. Assim, a atividade de limpeza dos camaroes palemonideos foi considerada comensal e nao casual. Apesar de P. falkneri incluir camaroes palemonideos em sua dieta, a baixa atividade diurna deste predador e um possivel estado de replecao gastrica pelas raias pode ter facilitado a interacao de limpeza.