Ectoparasite of the elephant in the Surakarta Zoo

Lice are ectoparasitic arthropod that feed on the blood of their hosts. They can adapt to a wide range of environments suitable for their hosts and survive in various global ecological regimes. Our research uncovered the presence of the elephant louse, Haematomyzus elephantis, in Indonesia. An elephant louse H. elephantis is found in the elephant of Surakarta Zoo, previously known as Taman Taru Jurug. Although this species is not commonly found in printed literature, it has been observed in the region. The elephant louse is a specialist parasite found exclusively on elephants and adapted to their particular physical characteristics and behaviours. It has a flattened body shape allows it to cling to the elephant's skin, and its mouthparts are adapted to pierce the thick skin of its host. Despite the challenges of living on an elephant, the elephant louse has evolved to be a successful parasite and is an important part of the ecosystem of its host.