Ectoparasites of the Critically Endangered Giant Shovelnose Ray Glaucostegus typus in the Eastern Indian Ocean, with a Summary of the Known Metazoan Parasites

Jack Ingelbrecht; Karissa O Lear; Alan J Lymbery; Rebecca L Bateman; Bradley M Norman; Storm B Martin; Travis Fazeldean; David L Morgan

doi:10.1007/s11686-024-00918-8

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Ectoparasites of the Critically Endangered Giant Shovelnose Ray Glaucostegus typus in the Eastern Indian Ocean, with a Summary of the Known Metazoan Parasites

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Ectoparasites of the Critically Endangered Giant Shovelnose Ray Glaucostegus typus in the Eastern Indian Ocean, with a Summary of the Known Metazoan Parasites

Jack Ingelbrecht, Karissa O Lear, Alan J Lymbery, Rebecca L Bateman, Bradley M Norman, Storm B Martin, Travis Fazeldean and David L Morgan

Acta parasitologica

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-024-00918-8

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Abstract

Copepoda

Giant guitarfsh

Glaucostegidae

Gnathiidae

Hirudinida

Monopisthocotyla

Purpose This study examined the metazoan ectoparasites of the Critically Endangered giant shovelnose ray, Glaucostegus typus, in the eastern Indian Ocean. Methods We screened 186 G. typus for ectoparasites in four coastal regions of Western Australia between 2020 and 2022: the Pilbara Region, Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo Coast and Shark Bay. Results Five parasite taxa were encountered on 186 G. typus: Caligus furcisetifer (Copepoda: Caligidae), Dermopristis cairae (Monopisthocotyla: Microbothriidae), Branchellion plicobranchus and Stibarobdella macrothela (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae), and praniza larvae of unidentified gnathiid isopod/s (Isopoda: Gnathiidae). Two of these species, B. plicobranchus and S. macrothela, are reported for the first time on G. typus. Only C. furcisetifer and S. macrothela were relatively common, encountered on 31% and 40% of G. typus, respectively. Gnathiids were observed infrequently, encountered on 13% of G. typus, and D. cairae and B. plicobranchus were scarce, encountered on 1% and 2% of G. typus, respectively. Intensity of infection for C. furcisetifer and gnathiids increased with host length. Likelihood of infection varied seasonally for C. furcisetifer, being considerably lower in summer, and regionally for gnathiids, being greatest at Shark Bay. Intensity and likelihood of infection for S. macrothela increased with host length and varied regionally, being greatest at Shark Bay. Conclusion These findings improve our understanding of the downstream impacts for dependent parasites that might arise should populations of G. typus continue to decline.

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Title: Ectoparasites of the Critically Endangered Giant Shovelnose Ray Glaucostegus typus in the Eastern Indian Ocean, with a Summary of the Known Metazoan Parasites
Authors/Creators: Jack Ingelbrecht - Murdoch University
Karissa O Lear - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Alan J Lymbery - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Rebecca L Bateman
Bradley M Norman - Murdoch University
Storm B Martin - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Travis Fazeldean - Murdoch University
David L Morgan - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Publication Details: Acta parasitologica
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005703768007891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.163 Parasitology - General; 1.163.645 Fish Parasitology
Web Of Science research areas: Parasitology; Veterinary Sciences; Zoology
ESI research areas: Microbiology