ARE THE HELMINTH COMMUNITIES FROM UNISEXUAL AND BISEXUAL LIZARDS DIFFERENT? EVIDENCE FROM GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES OF DAREVSKIA SPP. IN TURKEY

Roca V., Jorge F., ILGAZ Ç., KUMLUTAŞ Y., Durmus S. H., Carretero M. A.

ACTA ZOOLOGICA ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM HUNGARICAE, vol.61, no.3, pp.279-288, 2015 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 61 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.17109/azh.61.3.6.2015
  • Journal Name: ACTA ZOOLOGICA ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM HUNGARICAE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.279-288
  • Keywords: parasites, parthenogenetic lizards, Darevskia, Turkey
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Specimens of three species of parthenogenetic lizards (Darevskia uzzelli, D. bendimahiensis, and D. sapphirina) from northeastern Turkey were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Only one species, the nematode Spauligodon saxicolae (Pharyngodonidae), was found. The extremely low infection and diversity parameters, falling among the lowest within the Palaearctic saurians, support depauperate helminth communities for these parthenogenetic lacertid lizards. Our results suggest that parthenogenetic Darevskia follow a pattern of parasitism similar to other unisexual lizards (i.e. Aspidocelis). The low rates of infection and diversity may be explained by the decreasing opportunities for interchanging helminths rather than factors of susceptibility of unisexual hosts.