COCCIDIA (APICOMPLEXA, EIMERIIDAE) FROM THE BIG BEND SLIDER, TRACHEMYS GAIGEAE (TESTUDINES, EMYDIDAE), IN NEW-MEXICO

Twenty-nine Big Bend sliders Trachemys gaigeae (Hartweg, 1934) were co llected from Socorro County, New Mexico, and their feces examined for coccidial parasites. Three (10%) of the turtles were found to be infec ted with at least 1 coccidian. Seven Eimeria spp. (E. chrysemydis, E. graptemydos, E. marginata, E. pseudemydis, E. pseudogeographica, E. st ylosa, and E. trachemydis) were harbored by T. gaigeae. All represent new host and distributional records for these previously described coc cidians. In addition, a single sympatric western painted turtle (Chrys emys picta bellii) harbored E. chrysemydis, E. graptemydos, and E. tra chemydis. The latter coccidian is reported for the first time from C. picta bellii.