Nematodes Infecting the Shield Frog Adelophryne baturitensis in Rainforest Enclaves of Brazilian Semiarid

Parasitological studies provide important information about host biology. However, most anuran species in mountain environments have their helminth fauna understudied. In the present study, we aimed to inventory the endoparasites associated with the shield frog Adelophryne baturitensis from an altit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Caldasia 2024-01, Vol.46 (1), p.144
Main Authors: Batista-Oliveira, Dalilange, Kássio de Castro Araujo, De Oliveira, Cicero Ricardo, Cassiano-Lima, Daniel, Robson, Waldemar Ávila
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adelophryne baturitensis
Amphibians
Endoparasites
Fauna
Frogs
Mountain environments
Myrmecophagy
Nematodes
Rainforests
Semi arid areas
Semiarid lands
Taxa
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Summary:Parasitological studies provide important information about host biology. However, most anuran species in mountain environments have their helminth fauna understudied. In the present study, we aimed to inventory the endoparasites associated with the shield frog Adelophryne baturitensis from an altitudinal rainforest enclave in the Brazilian semiarid region. We found 57 specimens from five nematode taxa. Perhaps, the high nematode infection on this mountain frog might be related to the host’s direct life cycle where they do not need water ponds to lay eggs and reach tadpole development. Trematodes and other endoparasite taxa are commonly reported in water-dependent frogs. Although shield frogs seem to be myrmecophagous, more studies are still needed to investigate how their feeding habits might influence parasitological infection. Our study is an important contribution to understanding the parasite-host ecological relationship in minute frogs.
ISSN:0366-5232
2357-3759
DOI:10.15446/caldasia.v46n1.100705