ODONTOPHRYNUS OCCIDENTALIS (Cururu Lesser Escuerzo). PARASITISM.

VILLANOVA JORGELINA

HERPETOLOGICAL REVIEW

Society for study for amphibies and reptiles

Año: 2022 vol. 53 p. 295 - 296

0018-084X

Predation and parasitism have been considered important elements in shaping the life histories of amphibians (Beebee 1996. Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians. Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, Netherlands. 214 pp.). The ecological relationships between amphibians and leeches are very complex, with leeches potentially acting as predators or parasites on all life stages of amphibians, including their eggs (Romano and Di Cerbo 2007. Acta Zool. Sin. 53:750?754; Bach et al. 2018. Herpetol. Rev. 49:309), larvae (Gunzburger and Travis 2005. J. Herpetol. 39:547?571) and adults (Merilä and Sterner 2002. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 39:343?346; Velazco et al. 2016. Cuad. Herpetol. 30:17?19). Freshwater leeches, including temporary ectoparasites and predatory species, may affect amphibian physiology and anatomy, causing damage and reducing fecundity or survival, directly or indirectly (Chivers et al. 2001. Oikos 92:135?142). Leeches can affect amphibians in a direct way by preying on eggs and hatchlings at different stages of development (Chivers et al. 2001, op. cit.), and by parasitizing adults (Merilä and Sterner 2002, op. cit.); in addition, leeches may contribute to the spread of pathogens (Raffel et al. 2006. J. Parasitol. 92:1256?1264) and secondary parasites (Sawyer 1986. Leech Biology and Behaviour. II. Feeding Biology, Ecology and Evolution. Clarendon Press, Oxford, England. 374 pp.).