Anolis fuscoauratus. Photo by Roberto Langstroth
New literature alert!
In Journal of Helminthology
Helminths associated with Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata, Dactyloidae) in highland marshes of the Brazilian semi-arid
J.M. dos Santos Mesquita, S.S. de Oliveira, R. Perez, R.W. Ávila
Summary
Helminthological studies may contribute with valuable information on host biology and conservation. Herein, we provide new data on helminths infecting the lizard Norops fuscoauratus, testing one of the factors considered most important in parasitic ecology: host size. We analysed 25 specimens of N. fuscoauratus from three highland marshes in the Brazilian semi-arid. Eight taxa of helminths belonging to Nematoda, Trematoda and Acanthocephala were found. Physaloptera sp. showed the higher prevalence (40%), with a mean intensity of infection of 3.3 ± 1.46 (1–16) and mean abundance 1.32 ± 0.65 (0–16). Norops fuscoauratus represents four new host records for the helminths Cyrtosomum sp., Pharyngodon travassosi, Strongyloides sp. and Centrorhynchus sp. There is no relationship of host body size (P = 0.79) and mass (P = 0.50) with parasite richness. In addition, the present study contributes to the knowledge of the parasitic fauna of N. fuscoauratus and the Neotropical region.
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Greg Pauly
A paper about internal parasites that includes a photo of an anole with a possible external parasite. Is there a higher resolution image of the lead photo? At the posterior end of the anole’s head, there appears to be a possible parasite, maybe some sort of blood-sucking fly (or maybe just a chunk of shedding skin)?