Parasites of Native Georgia Snake Species
Disciplines
Other Animal Sciences | Parasitology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Parasites are prevalent in all groups of organisms, though they are less well documented in reptiles. Specifically, parasites of native Georgian snakes, such as the DeKay’s brown snake, Storeria dekayi, and the banded water snake, Nerodia fasciata, have been historically understudied both across the US and within Georgia. In this study, we aimed to describe the parasites of multiple species of snakes through parasitological dissections of fresh and fluid-preserved snake specimens. Across seven species and 48 individual snakes sampled, one species of pentastomid, two species of trematode, two species of cestode, and 14 species of nematode were identified. Describing the biodiversity of parasites helps us better understand and conserve these species in the future, as well as gain a further understanding of the parasitological biodiversity within Georgia.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Whitney Preisser
Parasites of Native Georgia Snake Species
Parasites are prevalent in all groups of organisms, though they are less well documented in reptiles. Specifically, parasites of native Georgian snakes, such as the DeKay’s brown snake, Storeria dekayi, and the banded water snake, Nerodia fasciata, have been historically understudied both across the US and within Georgia. In this study, we aimed to describe the parasites of multiple species of snakes through parasitological dissections of fresh and fluid-preserved snake specimens. Across seven species and 48 individual snakes sampled, one species of pentastomid, two species of trematode, two species of cestode, and 14 species of nematode were identified. Describing the biodiversity of parasites helps us better understand and conserve these species in the future, as well as gain a further understanding of the parasitological biodiversity within Georgia.