Body Size and Ectoparasitic Infestations in the Mediterranean Pond Turtle Mauremys leprosa (Testudines, Geoemydidae) in Majen Belahriti Pond (North-Eastern Algeria)

K. Ramdani; N. Ziane; M. Younsi; C. Ben Krinah; I. Bouchahdane; R. Rouag

doi:10.15407/zoo2024.03.231

K. Ramdani Biology, Water and Environment Laboratory (LBEE), Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty SNV/STU, University 8 Mai 1945, Guelma, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3754-6563
N. Ziane Laboratory of Environmental Bio-surveillance, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9999-2040
M. Younsi Biology, Water and Environment Laboratory (LBEE), Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty SNV/STU, University 8 Mai 1945, Guelma, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8641-8218
C. Ben Krinah Biology, Water and Environment Laboratory (LBEE), Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty SNV/STU, University 8 Mai 1945, Guelma, Algeria
I. Bouchahdane Biology, Water and Environment Laboratory (LBEE), Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty SNV/STU, University 8 Mai 1945, Guelma, Algeria.
R. Rouag Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Agro-ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chadli Bendjedid University, El Tarf, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1145-0165

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/zoo2024.03.231

Keywords: mediterranean pond turtle, morphological parameters, leaches, prevalence, infestation, Algeria

Abstract

Morphological parameters were measured on a population of the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) in Majen Belahriti pond in the region of Guelma (North-east of Algeria). Females exhibited a longer carapace length (CL) at 177 ± 23.85 mm, surpassing that of males (151.45 ± 31.12 mm), and they also displayed a higher body weight (BW) at 756.52 ± 243.91 g, which was notably greater than that of males (453.09 ± 224.42 g). Placobdella nabeulensis Ben Ahmed, Gajda, Utevsky, Kwist & Świątek, 2023 (Hirudinida, Glossiphoniidae) was identified as the only ectoparasite affecting M. leprosa, with an average body length and width of 11 ± 5.83 mm and 5.1 ± 2.89 mm respectively. The intensity, represented by the average number of leeches per turtle, was calculated to be 2.21 ± 1.31 for this specific population and a prevalence rate of 21.17 %. The tail region showed the highest parasite load, indicating its increased susceptibility compared to other body parts.

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