ENDOHELMINTHS FROM SIX RARE SPECIES OF TURTLES (BATAGURIDAE) FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA CONFISCATED BY INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG, CHINA A Thesis by REBECCA ANN MURRAY Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May 2004 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences ENDOHELMINTHS FROM SIX RARE SPECIES OF TURTLES (BATAGURIDAE) FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA CONFISCATED BY INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG, CHINA A Thesis by REBECCA ANN MURRAY Submitted to Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved as to style and content by: _______________________ _______________________ Norman Dronen, Jr. Merrill Sweet (Chair of Committee) (Member) _______________________ _______________________ Lee Fitzgerald Robert Brown (Member) (Head of Department) May 2004 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences iii ABSTRACT Endohelminths from Six Rare Species of Turtles (Bataguridae) from Southeast Asia Confiscated by International Authorities in Hong Kong, China. (May 2004) Rebecca Ann Murray, B.S., University of Florida Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Norman Dronen, Jr. 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. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I couldn’t have done this without Dr. Norman Dronen, my committee chair, for all of his assistance since I’ve been at Texas A&M University. I truly appreciate all of his help with teaching me the ins and outs of studying parasites and writing manuscripts. Thank you to Dr. Merrill Sweet and Dr. Lee Fitzgerald for their help in reviewing my thesis and offering suggestions. It made this thesis much more well- rounded. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Chuck Blend. You always had time for me and answered all of my questions (no matter how inane) with such enthusiasm. Your help with my publication was instrumental as you are also a very thorough reviewer. Thanks also to Dr. William Neill. You provided me with a lot of personal support on research ideas for projects not related to this thesis. I appreciate your willingness to help in any situation. Thanks to Kathryn Vaughan and the folks out at the TCWC for all of your help in providing me with the turtles to examine and providing me with information. Special thanks to Miss Suzi Flack for all of your assistance examining turtles and collecting the parasites. Not only were you a smiling face in the morning but you never complained about helping me count all of those nematodes. I’m grateful to everyone in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences for making my time at Texas A&M University a unique and wonderful experience. Special thanks to my fellow graduate students who picked me up when I was frustrated and always made me smile. v I would also like to express my gratitude to my family and friends. Your love and unwavering encouragement is precious to me. Thank you. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..............................................................................................iv TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………vi LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................ viii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ix INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1 Literature review ............................................................................................................2 Biodiversity ..................................................................................................................12 Host disease..................................................................................................................12 Host phylogeny ............................................................................................................13 Host feeding habits.......................................................................................................15 Host descriptions..........................................................................................................16 Cuora amboinensis...................................................................................................16 Cyclemys dentata .....................................................................................................16 Heosemys grandis ....................................................................................................17 Orlitia borneensis.....................................................................................................17 Pyxidea mouhotii......................................................................................................18 Siebenrockiella crassicollis .....................................................................................18 Purpose.........................................................................................................................18 MATERIALS AND METHODS .....................................................................................20 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................................24 Helminth survey ...........................................................................................................24 Cuora amboinensis...................................................................................................24 Cyclemys dentata .....................................................................................................26 Heosemys grandis ....................................................................................................26 Orlitia borneensis.....................................................................................................27 Pyxidea mouhotii......................................................................................................29 Siebenrockiella crassicollis......................................................................................29 Parasite species.............................................................................................................31 Falcaustra ................................................................................................................31 Falcaustra duyagi ....................................................................................................33 vii Page Falcaustra greineri ..................................................................................................33 Serpinema octorugatum ...........................................................................................34 Diaschistorchis multitesticularis..............................................................................34 Multicotyle purvisi ...................................................................................................35 Polystomoides malayi...............................................................................................35 Stunkardia dilymphosa.............................................................................................36 Telorchis clemmydis.................................................................................................37 Host phylogeny ............................................................................................................37 Host feeding habits.......................................................................................................40 Cuora amboinensis...................................................................................................40 Cyclemys dentata .....................................................................................................40 Heosemys grandis ....................................................................................................41 Orlitia borneensis.....................................................................................................41 Pyxidea mouhotii......................................................................................................41 Siebenrockiella crassicollis......................................................................................41