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

• Main Authors: Ramdani, K., Ziane, N., Younsi , M., Ben Krinah, C., Bouchahdane, I., Rouag, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2024
• Subjects: mediterranean pond turtle; morphological parameters; leaches; prevalence; infestation; Algeria
• Online Access: https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/552

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.