Tungau Ektoparasit pada Ular Micropechis ikaheka, Leiophyton albertisi, dan Stegonotus sp. di Papua

Abstract

Symbiosis is an interaction between two species or more. In snake, ectoparasite mites were found in the external parts of the body such as beyond the ventral scales of the snake. Previous exploration showed that the snakes M. ikaheka, L. albertisi and Stegonotus sp. in Papua was found as the host of ectoparasites mites. However, there is lack of species information of the mites. Thus, this research were aimed to study the ectoparasite mites of snakes M. ikaheka, L. albertisi and Stegonotus sp. in Papua. Wholemount polyvinillactophenol slide dan Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were prepared for mites identification. Results showed that the ectoparasites mites on M. ikaheka, L. albertisi and Stegonotus sp. were clasified in Subclass Acari, Order Parasitiformes, Family Paramegistidae, Genus Ophiomegistus, and Species Ophiomegistus luzonensis. Characteristics of mites O. luzonensis has nine pairs of setae on the jugular shield, two setae on metapodal shield. The metapodal shields were unfused and those shields were separated with the peritreme shield, endopodal shield verge with latigynial shield, latigynial and sternogynial shield was separated. Latigynial shield possessed more than twenty pairs of setae, however, on mesogynial–ventrianal shield had more than one hundred simple foliate setae. The mesogynial and ventrianal shield were fused and occurred three rows of foliate setae.