Helminths of seven species of lacertid lizards from southern Africa

Abstract

Two hundred and forty five lacertid lizards representing seven species (Heliobolus  lugubris, Ichnotropis squamulosa, Meroles anchietae, M. cuneirostris, M. suborbitalis, Pedioplanis lineoocellata, P. namaquensis) from southern Africa were examined for helminths. Adults of one species of cestode, Oochoristica ubelakeri, and four species of nematodes, Maxvachonia dimorpha, Parapharyngodon rotundatus, Spauligodon smithi, Thubunaea fitzsimonsi and metacestodes of a cyclophyllid cestode, the nematodes, Abbreviata sp. and an undetermined ascarid species, and an acanthocephalan species (as cystacanths) were found. Mean helminth species richness for adult helminths was 2.4 ± 1.3 S.D. (range = 1–4 per host species).

Key words: Lacertidae, Cestoda, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, southern Africa.