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Neotropical Helminthology, Vol. 20, Nº2, jul - dec 2026

Neotropical Helminthology

Neotropical Helminthology, 2026, vol. 20 (2), 295-299

ORIGINAL ARTICLE / ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL

HELMINTH ANALYSIS OF TWO SPECIES OF THE GENUS

STENOCERCUS, S. CADUCUS (COPE, 1862) AND S. SINESACCUS

(TORRES-CARVAJAL, 2005) (SAURIA: REPTILIA)

ANÁLISIS DE HELMINTOS EN DOS ESPECIES DEL GÉNERO

STENOCERCUS, S. CADUCUS (COPE, 1862) Y S. SINESACCUS

(TORRES-CARVAJAL, 2005) (SAURIA: REPTILIA)

ANÁLISE DE HELMINTOS EM DUAS ESPÉCIES DO GÊNERO

STENOCERCUS, S. CADUCUS (COPE, 1862) E S. SINESACCUS

(TORRES-CARVAJAL, 2005) (SAURIA: REPTILIA)

Kaylane Lucas da Costa¹*, Gabriel Pinho Carvalho¹, Milena Maria de Andrade Lima¹,

Robson Waldemar Avila¹ & Reinaldo J. Silva2

ISSN Versión Impresa 2218-6425 ISSN Versión Electrónica 1995-1403

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62429/rnh20262022230

Este artículo es publicado por la revista Neotropical Helminthology de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemática, Universidad Nacional Federico

Villarreal, Lima, Perú auspiciado por la Asociación Peruana de Helmintología e Invertebrados Aﬁ nes (APHIA). Este es un artículo de acceso abierto,

distribuido bajo los términos de la licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) [https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

deed.es] que permite el uso, distribución y reproducción en cualquier medio, siempre que la obra original sea debidamente citada de su fuente original.

ABSTRACT

 e lizard genus Stenocercus is one of the most widely distributed taxa in South America, both geographically and ecologically;

nevertheless, parasite-host interactions within the group remain poorly documented. Before this study, parasitological

studies have been conducted in only two species, Stenocercus roseiventris (D’Orbigny in Duméril & Bibron, 1837) and

Stenocercus caducus (Cope, 1863).  us, the aim of this study is to present new data on helminths infecting S. caducus

and S. sinesaccus. A total of 16 specimens were analyzed. For S. caducus, only the nematode Strongyluris oscari (Travassos,

1923) was found with a prevalence of 7.69%. For S. sinesaccus, three helminth taxa were identiﬁ ed: Subulura lacertilia

Vicente, Van Sluys, Fontes & Kiefer, 2000, Oochoristica sp., and Oswaldocruzia sp., with an overall infection prevalence

¹ Regional Ophiology Center, Federal University of Ceará, Block 905, Science Center, Pici Campus, Fortaleza, CE, Zip

Code 60455-760, Brazil.

2 Department of Biodiversity and Biostatistics, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu,

18618-689, SP, Brazil

* Corresponding author: kaylaelcsa@gmail.com

Kaylane Lucas da Costa: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0288-5956

Gabriel Pinho Carvalho: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3776-6722

Milena Maria de Andrade Lima: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8469-3445

Robson Waldemar Avila: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3641-8321

Reinaldo J. Silva: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3426-6873

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Lucas da Costa et al.

of 100%. is research presents the ﬁrst record of parasites for S. sinesaccus and expands the existing parasitological data

for S. caducus.

Keywords: Helminths – Stenocercus – parasites – Tropiduridae – Cerrado – Pantanal

RESUMEN

El género de lagartos Stenocercus es uno de los taxones con mayor distribución geográﬁca y ecológica en Sudamérica; sin

embargo, las interacciones parásito-huésped dentro de este grupo aún están poco documentadas. Antes de este estudio,

solo se habían realizado estudios parasitológicos en dos especies, Stenocercus roseiventris (D’Orbigny in Duméril & Bibron,

1837) y Stenocercus caducus (Cope, 1863). Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio es presentar nuevos datos sobre los

helmintos que infectan a S. caducus y S. sinesaccus. Se analizaron un total de 16 especímenes. En S. caducus, solo se encontró

el nematodo Strongyluris oscari (Travassos, 1923) con una prevalencia del 7,69%. En S. sinesaccus, se identiﬁcaron tres

taxones de helmintos: Subulura lacertilia Vicente, Van Sluys, Fontes & Kiefer, 2000, Oochoristica sp. y Oswaldocruzia

sp., con una prevalencia de infección general del 100%. Esta investigación presenta el primer registro de parásitos para

S. sinesaccus y amplía los datos parasitológicos existentes para S. caducus.

Palabras clave: Helmintos – Stenocercus – parásitos – Tropiduridae – Cerrado – Pantanal

RESUMO

O gênero de lagarto Stenocercus é um dos táxons mais amplamente distribuídos na América do Sul, tanto geograﬁcamente

quanto ecologicamente; apesar disso, as interações parasita-hospedeiro do grupo ainda são pouco documentadas. Até

o presente estudo, somente duas espécies haviam tido sua parasitologia previamente estudada: Stenocercus roseiventris

(D’Orbigny in Duméril & Bibron, 1837) e Stenocercus caducus (Cope, 1863), com registros limitados à Serra de Bodoquena,

no Mato Grosso do Sul. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar novos dados sobre helmintos hospedeiros de S.

caducus e S. sinesaccus. Dessa forma, foram analisados 16 espécimes no total. Para S. caducus, apenas um helminto foi

encontrado, o Strongyluris oscari (Travassos, 1923), apresentando uma prevalência de 7,69%. Para S. sinesaccus, três

táxons de helmintos foram encontrados: Subulura lacertilia Vicente, Van Sluys, Fontes & Kiefer, 2000, Oochoristica sp.

e Oswaldocruzia sp., com uma prevalência geral de infecção de 100%. A investigação apresenta o primeiro registro de

parasitas para S. sinesaccus e expande os dados parasitológicos conhecidos para S. caducus.

Palavras-chave: Helmintos – Stenocercus – parasitas – Tropiduridae – Cerrado – Pantanal

INTRODUCTION

Tropidurid lizard genus Stenocercus is one of the most widely

distributed taxa in South America, both geographically and

ecologically (Torres-Carvajal, 2007). Actually, 81 species

are recognized and distributed in forested environments

from northern Colombia through Bolivia and Brazil to

central Argentina, mainly distributed in the Andean region

(Ávila-Pires, 1995; Torres-Carvajal, 2007). However,

despite their wide distribution and diversity, their habits

remain poorly understood (Ávila & Silva, 2010; Silva et

al., 2010; Ávila et al., 2012).

Stenocercus caducus (Cope, 1863) encompasses a large part

of the genus’s distribution, occurring in Argentina, Bolivia,

and Brazil (Nogueira & Rodrigues, 2006). Studies with S.

caducus focus primarily on its reproductive biology, sexual

dimorphism, diet, and habitat use (Silva et al., 2010; Smith

& Smith, 2019), with a single study on parasitism (Ávila

& Silva, 2010).

On the other hand, Stenocercus sinesaccus (Torres-Carvajal,

2005) is recorded in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso,

Rondônia, and Goiás (Torres-Carvajal, 2005; Morais et al.,

2010), being a species with a signiﬁcant gap in knowledge,

limited essentially to taxonomic diagnosis and distribution

notes.

Parasitism is one of the most widespread modes of life on

the planet, and studies in parasitology are key to better

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Neotropical Helminthology, Vol. 20, Nº2, jul - dec 2026

understanding the natural history, ecology, life cycle,

and evolution of parasites and hosts (Loreau et al., 2005;

Albuquerque et al., 2012; Vieira et al., 2019). Despite the

diversity of species within the genus Stenocercus, there is

a gap in parasitological research on the group. To date,

only two have been the subject of parasitological studies:

Stenocercus roseiventris (D’Orbigny in Duméril & Bibron,

1837) and Stenocercus caducus (with records limited to the

Serra de Bodoquena in Mato Grosso do Sul (Ávila & Silva,

2010). us, this study presents new data on parasitism

in S. caducus and S. sinesaccus, expanding knowledge

regarding the genus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Specimens of S. caducus were collected at two localities

in Mato Grosso do Sul state: Dois Irmãos do Buriti

municipality (19°13’15.78” S, 57°34’23.11” W) and Morro

Santa Cruz (19°13’15.78” S, 57°34’23.11” W) and Serra

do Amolar (17°49’ S, 57°29’ W), Corumbá municipality.

Specimens of S. sinesaccus were collected at Manso Dam

(APM Manso; 14°44’42”S 55°19’23” W), Chapada

dos Guimarães municipality, Mato Grosso State. ese

localities are within the Pantanal (Corumbá municipality)

and Cerrado Biomes, where lizards were captured by hand

during active searches and by pitfall traps with drift fences

(Fitzgerald, 2012). Lizard specimens were euthanized with a

lethal injection of iopental, ﬁxed with 10% formalin, and

housed at Coleção Zoológica de Referência do Campus de

Corumbá, Seção de Herpetologia da Universidade Federal do

Mato Grosso do Sul (CEUCH) e Coleção Herpetológica da

Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, acervo de vertebrados

do Instituto de Biociências (UFMT-R).

With the aid of a digital caliper (1mm precision), the

snout-vent length (SVL) of each lizard specimen was taken,

and then each individual was necropsied with a careful

examination for helminths in the body cavity, lungs, and

digestive tract under a stereoscopic microscope. Helminths

found were processed following the guidelines of Aguiar

et al. (2026): nematodes were cleared in phenol, and

cestodes were dehydrated in an increasing series of alcohol,

stained with the hydrochloric carmine technique, cleared

in eugenol, mounted on temporary slides, and analyzed

under a light microscope. After identiﬁcation, helminth

vouchers were deposited at Coleção Helmintológica do

Instituto de Biociências da Unesp de Botucatu (CHIBB

2414, 2415, 3090, 3278, 3279, 3280, 3281, 3355, 3356

e 3357).

Ethical aspects: Lizard sampling permits were issued by

Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade

(ICMBio), and this study was approved by the Animal

Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Ceará

(CEUA-UFC), process #CEUA 6314010321.

RESULTS

irteen S. caducus (69.28 ± 8.95 mm SVL; three

females and ten males) were examined, and the helminth

Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (n=4) was found. e

overall prevalence was 7.69%. e helminths were found

in a male, primarily in the large intestine (n=3), with one

being found in the small intestine.

ree S. sinesaccus (68.48 ± 7.38 mm SVL; one female

and two males) were examined, and three helminth taxa

were found: the helminth Subulura lacertilia Vicente, Van

Sluys, Fontes & Kiefer, 2000 (n=41), an unidentiﬁed

species of Oochoristica (n=7), and an unidentiﬁed species

of Oswaldocruzia (n=1). e overall prevalence was 100%,

while the individual prevalence was 66.7% for Subulura

lacertilia, 33.3% for Oochoristica sp., and 33.3% for

Oswaldocruzia sp. Subulura lacertilia was found in the

large intestine of a male (n=13) and a female (n=28).

Oochoristica sp. was found in the small intestine of a

male, while one Oswaldocruzia sp. was found in the small

intestine of the other male, representing a co-infection

with S. lacertilia.

DISCUSSION

e Pantanal covers 1.9% of the Brazilian territory in the

Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states (IBGE, 2019,

2025), with a total area of 150,961 Km² and harboring 31

lizard species (Strüssmann et al., 2007), of which 41.9%

have been studied for parasites. On the other hand, the

Cerrado is the second largest Biome in Brazil, covering

parts of 11 states plus the Federal District, with 76 lizard

species registered and only 21 (27.6%) studied for parasites.

is low number is concerning, as both ecosystems are

suﬀering from biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities

(MMA, 2016).

To the best of our knowledge, only two species of

Stenocercus have been studied for parasites: Stenocercus

roseiventris and Stenocercus caducus. e last one involved

a study restricted solely to the Serra de Bodoquena region

where two helminths were found (Strongyluris oscari and

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Lucas da Costa et al.

Skrjabinellazia intermedia; Ávila & Silva, 2010). e

three analyzed specimens of S. sinesaccus exhibited a high

parasite load, with three diﬀerent types of helminths

found; however, the data were insuﬃcient to determine a

relationship between richness/abundance and snout-vent

length (SVL). It is noteworthy that parasitological studies

have been conducted on only approximately 3.7% of the

genus Stenocercus, underscoring the fact that there is much

more to be discovered.

Despite the small sample size of lizards analyzed, the results

obtained in the present study contribute to expanding

knowledge regarding the endoparasitic fauna of S. caducus

and S. sinesaccus. However, given the wide distribution

of S. caducus and the lack of studies on S. sinesaccus and

most species of the genus, there is a clear need for further

research with larger sample sizes to better understand

and characterize helminth diversity and the relationships

between these parasites and their hosts.

Author contributions: CRediT (Contributor Roles

Taxonomy)

KLC = Kaylane Lucas da Costa

GPC = Gabriel Pinho Carvalho

MMAL = Milena Maria de Andrade Lima

RWA = Robson Waldemar Ávila

RJS = Reinaldo José da Silva

Conceptualization: LC, GPC, MMAL

Data curation: RWA, RJS

Formal Analysis: GPC, RWA

Funding acquisition: RWA

Investigation: KLC, RWA

Methodology: MMAL

Project administration: KLC

Resources: RWA

Software: KLC, GPC, MMAL, WRA, RJS

Supervision: KLC, RWA

Validation: RWA

Visualization: KLC, GPC, MMAL, WRA, RJS

Writing – original draft: KLC, GPC, MMAL, WRA, RJS

Writing – review & editing: KLC, GPC, MMAL, WRA,

RJS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

is work was supported by the Conselho Nacional

de Desenvolvimento Cientíﬁco e Tecnológico - CNPq

under Grants to RWA [process 307722/2021-0 and

303570/2026-1] and scholarships from the CNPq/PIBIC

program at UFC for KLC and MMAL.

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Received September 25, 2026.

Accepted October 8, 2026.

Published online October 12, 2026.