Helminths of the San Diego Alligator Lizard, (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus webbi) (Anguidae) Author(s): Stephen R. Goldberg and Charles R. Bursey Source: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 26(2):297-298. Published By: Wildlife Disease Association DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-26.2.297 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.7589/0090-3558-26.2.297
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Journal
of Wildlife
Diseases. ©
Helminths
of the San Diego
(Gerrhonotus Stephen 90608, 16146,
2
ticarinatus
web/it)
pipiens)
Both
0.
new
host
from
and
the
notus
only
fauna
sp. represent helminth
4/96
(4%)
in this cestode,
helminth
host. web/if,
ranges
body
cavity
with with
south-
1971.
Baja Five (Behof this and
rostellum rounded
from
were
Whittier,
and
examined
1990
California
Pennsylvania
separately.
was slit longitudinally a dissecting microscope.
Each examined Liven and
for
iodine and hematoxylin.
intestine of a male vent length (SVL)
(Gerrho-
em Washington (USA) to central California, Republic of Mexico. subspecies are currently recognized len and King, 1979). The purpose report is to describe the prevalence
examined
pp. 297-298
Association
Sharon,
presence
cestodes
Only four of the 96 specimens infected with helminths. One Oochoristica sp. was found
prevalence,
lizard
were
College,
Campus,
organ under
stained stained
a
fauna.
alligator
multicarinatus)
in-
and
Whittier Valley
1990,
Disease
of Mesocestoides sp. Each he!minth was identified utilizing a glycerol wet mount. For detailed microscopy, nematodes were
mdi-
multicarinatus
depauperate
southern
of
community
Nematode,
Gerrhonotus
Anguidae,
The
Prevalence
helminth
two
Oswaldocru(Oochoristica sp.).
of a helminth
words:
County, of
Shenango
intestines
the
mul-
presence
of Biology,
University,
and
sp.
was
‘Department State
of
Angeles
the
Oochoristica
and
lack
R. Bursey,2
specimens
cestode
species)
depauperate
survey,
a
records. (all
(Anguidae)
Pennsylvania
Los
revealed
pipiens
fection
webb:)
(Gerrhonotus
(Ph ysaloptera
nematodes
Key
96
lizard
(USA)
cating
of
alligator
California
Charles
of Biology,
Necropsv
Diego
zia
and
Department
ABSTRACT: San
Lizard,
multicarinatus
R. Goldberg,’ USA; USA
Alligator
26(2),
Wildlife
The
scolex but suckers.
alligator 128 mm, of
this
were
(4%) were specimen of in the small lizard, collected
snoutMay
cestode
supported In addition,
lacked
a
four simple, uterine cap-
sules each contained a single egg, which identified it as a linstowiid cestode of the genus Oochoristica (Conn, 1985). Two third stage Physaloptera sp. larvae were found in the small intestine of a male
intensity of helminths from the San Diego alligator lizard (G. multi.carinatus webbi), a subspecies found in southern California.
alligator
lizard
(SVL
mm)
collected
May 1971. waldocruzia
webbi
stomach of a female alligator lizard (SVL 115 mm) collected July 1971. Likewise, two male and two female 0. pipiens were found in the small intestine of a female (SVL 85 mm) from August 1971. The only
tusa)
found a nematode and two cestode
ietta gerrhonoti sp.). We examined
webbi
collected Whittier
96 54
G.
multicarinatus
females).
They
were
in the Puente Hills, north (Los Angeles County, California,
USA;
34#{176}01’N, 117#{176}57’W;
They 1970
were captured to November
from were
1959, 1963, 1964 included. Lizards
stored
reBaer-
larval Mesocestoides
and
(42 males,
(Physaloptera species (adult
in neutral
elevation
150
genus of
buffered
from preserved
two
10%
and two female were found in
tnichostrongylid
m).
1968 and
Osthe
nematodes
re-
ported from North American lizards is waldocruzia (see Baker, 1987). Prevalence for Physaloptera sp. 1/96 (1%); prevalence for 0. pipiens 2/96 (2%) and for Oochoristica sp. it
by hand during March 1971; single specimens and were
of
Two male pipiens
121
Telford (1965, 1970), in the only other surveys on the helminths of G. multicarinatus
Oswas was was
1/96 (1%). The finding of 0. pipiens and Oochoristica sp. in G. multicarinatus webbi are new host and geographic records. Representative specimens were deposited
formalin.
The body cavity was opened by a longitudinal incision from vent to throat and the gastrointestinal tract was excised. Esophagus, stomach, and small and large
in the U.S. National (Beltsville, Maryland sion 297
numbers
for
Parasite 20705, Oochoristica
Collection USA; accessp.,
Physa-
298
JOURNAL
loptera and
OF WILDLIFE
sp. and 0. 80819,
We Puente 1970)
pipiens
are
80817,
80818
lationist munity
in
community high densities We thank
respectively.
did
not
Hills found
find
webbi the Palos
Angeles
County,
cific Ocean. ulation was ment and temperatures
B.
gerrhonoti
the
population. Te!ford (1965, it to be common in a G. mu!-
ticarinatus west on
population Verdes
about Peninsula
California)
50 km (Los
along
the
population. may shorten Puente Hills It is conceivable
It is thought these conditions the reproductive season of the population (Goldberg, 1972). that the cool, humid coastis more
cestodes This idea
conducive
than seems
one considers that most todes have been found while linstowiid cestodes
to
the drier, plausible
ne-
hotter when
nematotaeniid cesin toads and frogs are typical of liz-
ards (Schmidt, 1986). Thus, it might be expected that the cestode niche in a host population inhabiting a drier habitat would be filled by a different Oochoristica sp. Both populations, and Puente
Hills
in the small
cestode
are
numbers
in terms
dividuals. to the diet
However, of alligator
such
in particular
population,
contained
the
species
they and
They
are
in-
this could be related lizards. Rather than
described
King (1979) as feeding vertebrate or vertebrate In general, a nonselective several host criteria used
by
Behler
on almost they could
rich in (Pence, Adrian
for
species occurring 1989). Sales and Gregory
assistance
in collection
and any incatch.
diet is one of the to predict an iso-
at S. of
the
parasites. LITERATURE BAKER,
M. R.
1987.
sitic
in
amphibians
pers
in
Biology,
foundland, 325
CITED
Synopsis
of the nematoda
and
reptiles.
Memorial
St. John’s,
para-
Occasional
University
Paof
Newfoundland,
New-
Canada,
pp.
J. L.,
BEHLER, Society and
F. W.
AND
field
guide
amphibians.
New
York,
KING. to
Alfred 743
1979.
North
The
Audubon
American
A.
Knopf,
reptiles New
York,
pp.
D. B. 1985. Life cycle and postembryonic development of Oochoristica anolis (Cyclophyllidea: Linstowiidae). The Journal of Parasitology 71: 10-16. GOLDBERG, S. R. 1972. Reproduction in the southern alligator lizard Gerrhonotus multicarinatus. CONN,
Herpetologica PENCE,
28:
D. B.
malian
1989.
hosts:
component
Concepts and
Community
267-273.
community
Helminth at
the
compound
ecology
of
of mam-
infracommunity,
community
In
levels.
helminths:
Patterns
processes, G. W. Esch, A. 0. Bush, (eds.). Chapman and Hall, London,
and
and J. M. Aho England, pp.
233-260.
G. D. 1986. Handbook tification. CRC Press, Boca
SCHMIDT,
noteworthy
of helminths
of both
as
being restricted to a selective insectivorous diet as are many lizards (Stebbins, 1985), alligator lizards eat a broad spectrum of prey that includes slugs, snails, sow bugs, insects, scorpions, spiders, bird eggs, young birds and small mammals (Stebbins, 1954, 1985).
Felzien
not exposed to high summer as was the inland Puente Hills
al environment
species poor, low-density cornof helminths versus an interactive
Pa-
The coastal Palos Verdes popfrom a coo!, humid environ-
was
matotaeniid interior.
VOL. 26, NO. 2, APRIL 1990
DISEASES,
of tapeworm Raton, Florida,
iden675
pp. R. C.
STEBBINS,
1954.
Amphibians
and
reptiles
of
western
North America. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York, 536 pp. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Houghton Muffin Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 336 pp. TELFORD, S. R. 1965. A new nematotaeniid cestode from California lizards. Japanese Journal of Experimental
Medicine
1970. sitism
among
populations.
35:
301-303.
A comparative some American
study
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Midland
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Received
for
publication
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of endopara-
California
1989.
Naturalist
lizard
83: