Wild tortoises face a new problem that threatens their survival: a new species of parasite. A group of scientists from the Center for Wildlife Conservation and the National University of San Juan (UNSJ) announced the discovery of this new parasite, which represents an important step for science and the conservation of this species.
This finding was published in the Bulgarian scientific journal Historia naturalis bulgarica under the title: “Description of Cruzia sanjuanensis sp. nov. (Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae) in the tortoise Chelonoidis chilensis (Testudines: Testudinidae) in the province of San Juan, Argentina”. This study, led by veterinarians Cynthia González Rivas and Iván Simoncelli, describes a new species of parasite that inhabits the large intestine of the terrestrial tortoise Chelonoidis chilensis, a species native to the Cuyo region, which is in serious danger of extinction.
This research represents a fundamental step for the protection of terrestrial tortoises and their environment. Although these tortoises are emblematic of the region, experts have little information regarding their health and their interactions with these parasites.
This advancement highlights the commitment of the researchers from San Juan and their collaboration with the UNSJ, which has helped them establish themselves as a reference in biodiversity studies at an international level. In fact, the Faunistic Center celebrated this finding as an example of the positive impact that local research has on wildlife and the generation of knowledge for its conservation.
Particularities of the Argentine wild tortoise
The Argentine wild tortoise, endemic to this country, but also found in other countries in South America, such as Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, has several noteworthy characteristics, including:
- Size: Females can reach up to 32 cm in length, while males reach 26 cm.
- Color: The shell of males is black, and that of females is light brown.
- Diet: Herbivorous, but can also eat snails, earthworms, slugs, grasshoppers, etc.
- Reproduction: Oviparous, reproduction begins between November and February.
- Habitat: Inhabits the southern province of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, and the northeast of Chubut.
- Conservation status: Since 1988, it has been considered vulnerable.
- Longevity: Can live over 100 years, even exceeding 150 years.
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