Distribution

This parasite has a wide distribution, mirroring that of its host sharks.

It is known from:

North and South Atlantic, including the Mediterranean
North and South Pacific
Western Indian Ocean

The preferred hosts are fast swimming, lamniform sharks, including the blue, mako and white sharks, but it has also been reported from the whale shark and from a bony fish, ocean sunfish (Kabata).

Conservation

Shark populations are declining so their parasites, such as Anthosoma, will be affected by this decline. However, parasites are rarely accorded any conservation status.

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