Infestation of Ecotoparasites on Yellow-Lipped sea Kraits (Laticauda Colubrina) at Kalampunian Damit and Gaya Island.Sabah

• Main Author: Muhammad Noor Aiman Mazlan
• Format: Academic Exercise
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: QL Zoology
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/20141/1/Infestation%20of%20Ecotoparasites.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/20141/

The present study discuss about the infestation of ectoparasite on yellow-lipped sea kraits, Laticauda colubrina at Kalampunian Damit and Gaya Island, Sabah. A total of 45 samples of L. colubrina were examined Ectoparasites found were collected using forcep and preserved in 75% ethanol and 10% glycerine solution. Injuries apparent were also noted. Two groups of ectoparasites was identified which are ixodid ticks from the genus Amblyomma and Trombiculidae gen. sp. (F). From the total krait samples examined, 62.22% were found infested by ectoparasites. There were 73% of infested male kraits compared to 52% in females. Infestation of ectoparasites did not depend on the sex of the krait samples (x² = 2.021, df = 1, P>0.05). Majority of samples acquire single infestation type which are 60% of them. Only Z22% acquire double infestation type. This might depends on the intrinsic character of the ectoparasites. Majority of the ectoparasites were found on the body of the kraits. But the infestation does not have any effect the the kraits body size. In overall, 71 % of the samples have no injuries. From all male samples, 81% were not injured while in female, only 39% were injured. Injuries on the kraits samples also did not depend on their sexes (x²- 2.402, df - 1, P->0.05). There were ten cases of injuries on the tail recorded compared to seven on the body, and only one case of injuries on the head was recorded. Relationship between injuries and infestation of ectoparasites were found insignificant (x² = 0.382, df = 1, P>0.05). Ectoparasites attack their host randomly, neither according to the sex nor the injury of the host.