J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 59(1), 1992, pp. 130-131 Research Note Helminths of the Bunch Grass Lizard, Sceloporus scalaris slevini (Iguanidae) STEPHEN R. GOLDBERG1 AND CHARLES R. BuRSEY2 1 Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608 and 2 Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Valley Campus, 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146 ABSTRACT: Thirty-eight Sceloporus scalaris slevini Only 3 of the 38 S. scalaris, all from the 1973 Smith, 1937, from Cochise County, Arizona were ex- collection, were infected with helminths (prev- amined for helminths. Tetrathyridia of the cestode, alence 8%). These had 58,52, and 8 tetrathyridia Mesocestoides sp. Vaillant, 1863, were found in the of Mesocestoides sp., respectively (mean inten- coelom of 3 lizards. Third-stage larvae of the nema- tode, Physaloptera sp. Rudolphi, 1819, were recovered sity 39.3), within their body cavities. One lizard from the stomach of 1. Cestode prevalence was 8%, also had 6 third-stage Physaloptera sp. in its mean intensity 39.3; nematode prevalence was 3%, stomach (prevalence 3%). Representative hel- intensity 6. The finding of these helminths represents minths were deposited in the U.S. National Par- new host records. KEY WORDS: Cestoda, Mesocestoides sp., Nemato- asite Collection (Beltsville, Maryland 20705): da, Physaloptera sp., prevalence, intensity, Sceloporus Mesocestoides sp. (81343) and Physaloptera sp. scalaris, Iguanidae. (81344). Mesocestoides is a cosmopolitan genus of cy- The bunch grass lizard, Sceloporus scalaris, clophyllidean cestodes for which the complete occurs in the Huachuca, Dragoon, Santa Rita, life cycle is still unknown. Its unique larval form, and Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona, the Ani- the tetrathyridium, is commonly found in mam- mas Mountains of New Mexico, and in the Sierra malian, avian, and reptilian intermediate hosts Madre Occidental and Sierra del Nido of Mexico, and is readily infective to predatory definitive mostly above 1,830 m (a few isolated valley pop- hosts (Schmidt, 1986). Goldberg and Bursey ulations as low as 1,220 m) (Stebbins, 1985). To (1990) have reviewed the prevalences of Meso- our knowledge, there have been no reports of cestoides sp. in North American lizards. Our re- helminth parasitism in this species. The purpose covery of this parasite from S. scalaris represents of this note is to report the results of a helminth a new host record and is the thirty-first lizard survey of Sceloporus scalaris slevini Smith, 1937. species from which it has been reported. The We examined 38 Sceloporus scalaris (mean prevalence of 8% for tetrathyridia of Mesoces- snout-vent length 49 ± 5 mm SD, range 34-58 toides sp. is within the range of prevalences (0- mm) from the Angelo State Natural History Col- 27%) reported in other North American lizards. lections, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Physaloptera is a cosmopolitan genus of spi- Texas (Appendix 1). Lizards had been preserved rurid nematodes occurring in reptiles, birds, and in 10% formalin and were later stored in ethyl mammals; the life cycle is indirect, requiring an alcohol. Eight had been collected 13 km W of intermediate host (Olsen, 1974). Eggs contain Portal, Chiricahua Mountains, 31°55'N, first-stage larvae when laid and are passed in the 109°16'W, Cochise County, Arizona (2,438 m host's feces. They are immediately infective to elevation) in September 1972; 30 were from the arthropod intermediate hosts. Arthropods har- vicinity of Rustler's Park, Chiricahua Moun- boring third-stage larvae are the source of infec- tains, 31°54'N, 109°16'W, Cochise County (2,560 tion in lizards (Olsen, 1974). Our recovery of m elevation) May-June 1973. The abdomen was third-stage Physaloptera sp. from S. scalaris rep- opened and the esophagus, stomach, and small resents a new host record. and large intestines were removed. Each organ Our finding of only immature helminths sug- was slit longitudinally and examined under a dis- gests a limited parasite fauna for S. scalaris. We secting microscope. The liver and body cavity have no explanation for the lack of adult hel- were also examined. Helminths were identified minths. Baker (1987) listed an average of 2.7 after preparation of glycerol wet mounts. (range 1-8) adult nematodes for 14 species of 130 CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001111,, TThhee HHeellmmiinntthhoollooggiiccaall SSoocciieettyy ooff WWaasshhiinnggttoonn OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME 59, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1992 131 Sceloporus. This difference between S. scalaris Goldberg, S. R., and C. R. Bursey. 1990. Prevalence and other sceloporine lizards may lie in ecolog- of larval cestodes (Mesocestoides sp.) in the west- ern fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus ical attributes. Sceloporus scalaris inhabits grass (Iguanidae), from southern California. Bulletin of clumps whereas most other sceloporine lizards the Southern California Academy of Sciences 89: are geophilic. This habitat difference may be 42-48. enough to eliminate the majority of insect inter- Olsen, O. W. 1974. Animal Parasites. Their Life Cy- cles and Ecology. University Park Press, Balti- mediate hosts from the diet as well as remove more, Maryland. 562 pp. the lizard from areas contaminated by feces. Fur- Schmidt, G. D. 1986. Handbook of Tapeworm Iden- ther investigation of the helminths of this species tification. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. 675 would be appropriate. PP- We thank Raymond Stone, Jr., Department of Stebbins, R. C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Rep- tiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Com- Biology, Angelo State University, San Angelo, pany, Boston, Massachusetts. 336 pp. Texas, for allowing us to examine S. scalaris from the Angelo State Natural History Collections. Appendix 1 Sceloporus scalaris examined from Angelo State Literature Cited Natural History Collection: 10728-10735, 11019, Baker, M. R. 1987. Synopsis of the Nematoda par- 11348-11351, 11358, 11360-11369, 11382, 11383, asitic in amphibians and reptiles. Memorial Uni- 11387, 11390, 11392-11394, 11492, 11499, 11609, versity of Newfoundland, Occasional Papers in 11612-11615. Biology 11:1-325. J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 59(1), 1992, pp. 131-133 Research Note Helminths of the Marine Toad, Bufo marinus (Anura: Bufonidae), from American Samoa STEPHEN R. GOLDBERGl AND CHARLES R. BuRSEY2 1 Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608 and 2 Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Valley Campus, 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146 ABSTRACT: The gastrointestinal tracts, lungs, livers, 1981). It was introduced into Tutuila Island, and urinary bladders of 97 Bufo marinus were exam- American Samoa, from Hawaii in 1953 to con- ined for helminths. The nematode, Parapharyngodon trol insects and later to Aunu'u Island. The pop- kartana, was recovered from 1 toad (prevalence 1%). This occurrence represents a new host record. The ulation on Tutuila Island was estimated to be trematode, Mesocoelium monas, was also recovered; 2,296,000 in 1976 by Amerson et al. (1982). To prevalence 100% (mean intensity 101) from B. marinus our knowledge, the helminth fauna of B. marinus collected on Tutuila Island and prevalence 80% (mean from American Samoa has not been investigated. intensity 19) for toads from Aunu'u Island. This finding The purpose of this report is to present findings extends the range of M monas to the Pacific Islands. KEY WORDS: Trematoda, Mesocoelium monas, of an examination of B. marinus from American Nematoda, Parapharyngodon kartana, Bufonidae, Bufo Samoa for helminths. marinus, prevalence, intensity, American Samoa. Ninety-seven B. marinus were examined. Eighteen (mean snout-vent length [SVL] 89.5 The marine toad, Bufo marinus (Linnaeus, mm, range 53-127 mm) were collected April- 1758), originally ranged from southern Texas to May 1989 from Tutuila Island, American Samoa central Brazil (Zug and Zug, 1979), but was in- (14°17'S, 170°41'W); 23 (mean SVL 91.7 mm, troduced to many areas including the Caribbean range 75-122 mm) were collected January 1990 Islands, Pacific Islands, and Australia (Easteal, also from Tutuila Island. Fifty-six (mean CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001111,, TThhee HHeellmmiinntthhoollooggiiccaall SSoocciieettyy ooff WWaasshhiinnggttoonn