Helminths of the lizard <em>Colobosauroides cearensis</em> (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) in an area of Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil

• Main Authors: Aldenir Silva Neta, Robson Ávila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Firenze University Press 2018-06-01
• Series: Acta Herpetologica
• Online Access: https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/1827

Lizards are hosts to a variety of parasites, but in South America only 15% of lizard species have been studied for helminths. In the present study, the component community of helminths associated with the gymnophthalmid Colobosauroides cearensis in an area of Caatinga (7°22’46.08” S, 38°38’47.87”W) is reported. We examined 91 specimens from the Brazilian state of Ceará, and five taxa of helminths were recovered: four Nematoda (Parapharyngodon largitor, Spauligodon sp., Physaloptera sp. and Oswaldocruzia sp.) and one Cestoda (Oochoristica sp.). Parapharyngodon largitor was the most prevalent species (61%), and presented the highest mean abundance of infection (1.60 ± 0.18). Lizard body size influenced the richness and abundance of helminths, while infection parameters were not related to lizard sex.