07. Diet and parasite communities of two lizard species, Plica plica and Plica umbra from Brazil and Ecuador

Resumen

Plica plica and Plica umbra from Brazil and Ecuador were examined for endoparasites. Plicaplica harboured one species of Digenea, Mesocoelium monas, four species of Nematoda, Oswaldocruzia vitti, Physalopteroides venancioi, Strongyluris oscari and Physaloptera retusa; P. umbra harboured five species of Nematoda, Oswaldocruzia bainae, Oswaldocruzia vitti, Physaloptera retusa, Strongyluris oscari and Piratuba digiticauda. Three new host records are reported for P. plica and three for P. umbra. Both lizard species are ant specialists but do eat other types of prey. We speculate on sources of endoparasites based on the diets of these two arboreal tropical lizards.