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Er-Rguibi O, Bursey CR, Laghzaoui EM, Aglagane A, Kimdil L, Abbad A, El Mouden EH. New host and locality records of helminths' infection of seven lizards from Morocco. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2537-2546. [PMID: 35798910 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07588-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Morocco has a great diversity of reptiles; more than 26% of the herpetofauna species are considered to be endemic. Nevertheless, there is little information available on helminth parasites of Moroccan lizards. The purpose of this article is to establish a helminth list using non-invasive methods for natural populations of seven lizard species: Acanthodactylus maculatus, Chalcides mionecton, Chalcides montanus, Chalcides polylepis, Quedenfeldtia moerens, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, and Tarentola mauritanica. For each species, prevalence and intensity of infection were given as well as their relationship to some determinant parameters (sex, age class, size, altitude, and seasons). Four species of nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Spauligodon auziensis, Thelandros alatus, and unassigned Spauligodon were found. Mean helminth intensity for the seven lizard species was 7.3 ± 16.2 SD (range = 1-92 in infected lizards), with total infection prevalence of 5.6%. Mixed infections were observed in Chalcides montanus and Chalcides polylepis co-infected by Pharyngodon mamillatus and Spauligodon sp. Furthermore, the intensity of infection by nematodes were significantly different among the seven studied species. The nematode infection in Chalcides mionecton were related to sex, host size, and altitude; in Chalcides polylepis to the host age; in Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus to elevation, age, and host size; and in Tarentola Mauritanica to age, body size, seasons, and altitude. In conclusion, our study provides data about nine new host and locality records and the effect of some determinant factors on host parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Er-Rguibi
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
| | - Charles Robert Bursey
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, PA, 16146, USA
| | - El-Mustapha Laghzaoui
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Abdessamad Aglagane
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Latifa Kimdil
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Abdelaziz Abbad
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - El Hassan El Mouden
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
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Determinants of prevalence and co-infestation by ecto- and endoparasites in the Atlas day gecko, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, an endemic species of Morocco. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2543-2556. [PMID: 33748890 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07120-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The present work was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of ectoparasites (mites and ticks) and endoparasites (haemogregarines and helminths) in the Atlas day gecko, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus (Boettger, 1874), a high-altitude Moroccan endemic lizard. The study examinated also the effect of some host parameters (age, sex, size, body condition), in addition to the season and altitude on the prevalence and intensity of parasite infestations. The study was conducted in three localities from May to September 2019. The results indicated that 35% of juvenile geckos were found to be parasited by one type of parasite. Contrarily, up to three types of parasites were detected in the adults. The prevalence of mite infestations was 48.02%, with a mean intensity of 11.80 ± 15.69. The patterns of mite infestations was found to be mainly related to the altitude, while the prevalence and intensity of infestations were linked to the host size, and to the sex and season, respectively. Larvae and nymphs of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) were the only life stages infesting geckos, with a prevalence and mean intensity of infestations of 4.41% and 2.2 ± 1.48, respectively. The tick infestations observed were mainly related to the season. The prevalence and intensity of haemogregarine infections were, respectively, 7.92% and 0.24 ± 0.15. The altitude was found to be the only factor associated with this infection. This study also revealed the presence of one helminth genus, Spauligodon sp., with a prevalence and mean intensity of 12.33% and 1.46 ± 0.88, respectively. Spauligodon infestations was significantly associated with age, host size and altitude. This finding represents the first citation of this parasite in Quedenfeldtia genus. Our study indicated that there was no significant relationship between parasite load and geckos body condition, which suggested a stable interaction between the gecko and its parasites. However, it showed a difference of infection between the localities, which could be in relation with habitat conditions.
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Stuart‐Fox D, Aulsebrook A, Rankin KJ, Dong CM, McLean CA. Convergence and divergence in lizard colour polymorphisms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:289-309. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Anne Aulsebrook
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Katrina J. Rankin
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Caroline M. Dong
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Sciences Department Museums Victoria 11 Nicholson Street Carlton Gardens VIC 3053 Australia
| | - Claire A. McLean
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Sciences Department Museums Victoria 11 Nicholson Street Carlton Gardens VIC 3053 Australia
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Allen WL, Moreno N, Gamble T, Chiari Y. Ecological, behavioral, and phylogenetic influences on the evolution of dorsal color pattern in geckos. Evolution 2020; 74:1033-1047. [PMID: 31886521 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal surfaces of many taxonomic groups often feature repetitive pattern elements consisting of stripes, spots, or bands. Here, we investigate how distinct categories of camouflage pattern work by relating them to ecological and behavioral traits in 439 species of gecko. We use phylogenetic comparative methods to test outstanding hypotheses based on camouflage theory and research in other taxa. We found that bands are associated with nocturnal activity, suggesting bands provide effective camouflage for motionless geckos resting in refugia during the day. A predicted association between stripes and diurnal activity was not supported, suggesting that stripes do not work via dazzle camouflage mechanisms in geckos. This, along with a lack of support for our prediction that plain patterning should be associated with open habitats, suggests that similar camouflage patterns do not work in consistent ways across taxa. We also found that plain and striped lineages frequently switched between using open or closed habitats, whereas spotted lineages rarely transitioned. This suggests that pattern categories differ in how specialized or generalized their camouflage is. This result has ramifications for theory on how camouflage compromises to background heterogeneity and how camouflage pattern might influence evolutionary trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Allen
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK, SA2 8PP
| | - Nickolas Moreno
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, 36688
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233.,Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55113.,Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233
| | - Ylenia Chiari
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, 36688.,Department of Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, 20110
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Comas M. Body condition, sex and elevation in relation to mite parasitism in a high mountain gecko. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Comas
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD) Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Sevilla Spain
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Universidad de Granada Granada Spain
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Paterson JE, Blouin-Demers G. Distinguishing discrete polymorphism from continuous variation in throat colour of tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blw024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Bouazza A, Slimani T, El Mouden H, Blouin‐Demers G, Lourdais O. Thermal constraints and the influence of reproduction on thermoregulation in a high‐altitude gecko (
Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus
). J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Bouazza
- Laboratoire Biodiversité et Dynamique des Écosystèmes Faculté des Sciences Semlalia Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech Maroc
| | - T. Slimani
- Laboratoire Biodiversité et Dynamique des Écosystèmes Faculté des Sciences Semlalia Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech Maroc
| | - H. El Mouden
- Laboratoire Biodiversité et Dynamique des Écosystèmes Faculté des Sciences Semlalia Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech Maroc
| | - G. Blouin‐Demers
- Département de Biologie Université d'Ottawa Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - O. Lourdais
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé UMR 7372 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Villiers en Bois France
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
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Scali S, Sacchi R, Mangiacotti M, Pupin F, Gentilli A, Zucchi C, Sannolo M, Pavesi M, Zuffi MAL. Does a polymorphic species have a ‘polymorphic’ diet? A case study from a lacertid lizard. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Scali
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Pavia; via Taramelli 24 I-27100 Pavia Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Fabio Pupin
- MUSE - Museo delle Scienze di Trento; Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 I-38123 Trento Italy
| | - Augusto Gentilli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Pavia; via Taramelli 24 I-27100 Pavia Italy
| | - Carlo Zucchi
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Marco Sannolo
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Maurizio Pavesi
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Marco A. L. Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale; Università di Pisa; via Roma 79 I-56011 Calci Italy
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Comas M, Escoriza D, Moreno-Rueda G. Stable isotope analysis reveals variation in trophic niche depending on altitude in an endemic alpine gecko. Basic Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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