Epibionts Associated with the Nesting Marine Turtles Lepidochelys olivacea and Chelonia mydas in Jalisco, Mexico: A Review and Field Guide

The diversity and frequency of epibiota collected over three years (2001, 2002, 2008) from sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea and Chelonia mydas) nesting on Teopa Beach in Jalisco State, Mexico, are described. This diversity is compared to epibiotic assemblages procured from these same turtle species nesting on other Mexican beaches, and the role these turtles play in the conservation and dispersal of these epibiota is discussed. Given the increased awareness of epibionts and the desire of many researchers to make positive identifications, specific diagnoses, photographs and a collecting protocol will serve as a basic aid to the collection and accurate identification of epibionts found on turtles living along the Pacific coast of Mexico.