Helminths of Liophis miliaris (Squamata, Dipsadidae): a list of species and new records

Abstract

In order to have better knowledge of the parasites of the common water snake Liophis miliaris (Linnaeus, 1758), a checklist of its helminths was produced based on a review of the literature and new records of worms identified during the course of a parasitological survey combining data from stool analysis (n = 22) and necropsies (n = 8) of specimens of this snake from Muriaé, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Thirty-one helminth species (two acanthocephalans, one cestode, 11 nematodes and 17 trematodes) were so far reported in L. miliaris in the Neotropical region, already including the records in the present study of Acanthorhabdias acanthorhabdias Pereira, 1927, Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) cesarpintoi (Freitas & Lent, 1934) and Strongyloides ophidiae Pereira, 1929. Taxonomic comments on these nematode species are given, and areas of occurrence of A. acanthorhabdias and P. cesarpintoi are expanded in southeastern Brazil. In addition, factors related to parasite richness of L. miliaris, which is likely related to its aquatic habits, are discussed.