Helminth infracommunities of Gallotia caesaris caesaris and Gallotia caesaris gomerae (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic).

Abstract

A survey of gastrointestinal helminth communities of Gallotia caesaris caesaris (Lehrs, 1914) and G. c. gomerae (Boettger and MUller, 1914), from the islands of El Hierro and La Gomera, respectively, in the Canary Archipelago, Spain, was conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity, and diversity of intestinal parasites of these lacertid lizards. Larval forms of cestodes, nematodes, and acanthocephalans were found in the body cavity of G. c. caesaris; this lizard is the intermediate or paratenic host in the life cycle of these helminths. Pharyngodonid nematodes were the most common intestinal helminths in both hosts, 4 of them being Gallotia spp. specialists. Helminth infracommunities of both hosts were depauperate and isolationist, according to the low values of helminth diversity.