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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the helminth fauna found in the Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, relating parasite population and community ecological parameters to life aspects of the host species. The study involved 237 specimens of S. magellanicus taken from the northern shore of the state of São Paulo (23° 46' S, 45° 57' W) and southern shore of the state of Rio de Janeiro (23° 02' S, 44° 13' W), Brazil. The following helminth fauna were found: the nematode Contracaecum pelagicum (core species), found in the stomach; the digenetic Cardiocephaloides physalis and the cestode Tetrabothrius lutzi (satellite species), both collected from the initial portion of the small intestine. Comparisons using the Shannon Diversity Index revealed that the parasite community in juvenile penguins is less diverse in the migratory season than the breeding season. Parasitological studies on penguins and other migratory animals provide important information on species during the time in which they remain pelagic and constitute a useful tool for the acquisition of data that is difficult to obtain through other means, thereby favoring the conservation of the species.Keywords: helminth fauna, ecological parameters, latitudinal variation. Os resultados obtidos permitem inferir que estudos parasitológicos em pinguins, assim como em outros animais migratórios, podem fornecer informações importantes a respeito da espécie durante a época em que permanece pelágica, tornando-se uma ferramenta útil na aquisição de informações dificilmente obtidas por outros meios e favorecendo, dessa forma, a conservação da espécie. Aspectos ecológicos da helmintofauna de pinguins dePalavras-chave: helmintofauna, parâmetros ecológicos, variação latitudinal.

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The registration of reproductive processes of elasmobranchs is rare and little documented in public aquariums. The present work registers the first case of dystocia in cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus), (Mitchill, 1815). The ray maintained in captivity by 16 years, it presented a gestation of 14 months. There was not occurrence of the natural childbirth, being necessary the human intervention through obstetric maneuvers for the retreat of the fetus. The described procedures can be used as reference in other cases of dystocia with the species.

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