Helmintofauna associada ao lagarto Ameivula ocellifera (Spix, 1825) (Teiidae: Squamata) em áreas de restinga na costa leste do Brasil

Abstract

We studied the helminths communities associated to the lizard Ameivula ocellifera in areas of restinga in northeastern Brazil. A sample of 183 specimens of A. ocellifera from five restinga areas in northeastern Brazil (Genipabu, Piaçabuçu, Barra dos Coqueiros, Praia do Porto and Guarajuba) was examined for the presence of helminths. We sampled a total of six species associated with the populations of A. ocellifera, two cestode larvae: Oochoristica sp.1 and Oochoristica sp.2 and four nematodes: Spirurida, Falcaustra sp., Contracaecum sp., Cosmocercidae and two unidentified species. A. ocellifera is a species with a wide distribution, and the knowledge of its helminths communities is dispersed and available to few populations. Contrary to the expected, none of the six helminths species were recorded in more than one of the studied localities. Showing that A. ocellifera serves as the final host for other species of helminths such as Oochoristica sp.1 Falcaustra sp. The helminths communities of populations with lower richness coincided with the intermediate and high degradation levels of restinga. The composition of helminths species was unique in each studied locality, being completely different from populations of A. ocellifera studied in the east coast of Brazil