Endohelminths from six rare species of turtles (Bataguridae) from Southeast Asia confiscated by international authorities in Hong Kong, China
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Date
2004-09-30
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Texas A&M University
Abstract
Specimens of 6 species of threatened, vulnerable, and endangered turtles (Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, Heosemys grandis, Orlitia borneensis, Pyxidea mouhotii, and Siebenrockiella crassicollis) belonging to family Bataguridae, were confiscated in Hong Kong, China on 11 December 2001 by international authorities. Endohelminth studies on these turtle species are scarce, and this study provided a rare opportunity to examine a limited number of specimens for endohelminths. Ten different parasite species were collected and there were 16 new host records. This is the first record of a parasite from P. mouhotii. The parasite prevalences found in this study provide a basis for a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of the family Bataguridae to other families, especially Testudinidae. Based on known life cycles, parasites found provided an indication of food preferences of these 6 turtle species that support previous studies of the turtles' feeding habits. However, the results of the parasite survey from O. borneensis provided additional feeding habit information. The list of endohelminths herein is intended to provide a foundation for future parasite studies of the 6 species of Asian turtles.
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Hong Kong, China, Confiscation, Bataguridae, Testudinidae, Turtle, Parasite, Phylogeny, Food habits, Biodiversity, Disease, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia Cestoda, Trematoda, Nematoda, Spirorchidae, Aspidogastrea, Digenea, Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, Heosemys grandis, Orlitia borneensis, Pyxidea mouhotii, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, Manouria emys, Manouria impressa, Falcaustra duyagi, Falcaustra greineri, Serpinema octorugatum, Diaschistorchis multitesticularis, Multicotyle purvisi, Telorchis clemmydis, Stunkardia dilymphosa