Helminth infracommunities of <i>Podarcis pityusensis</i> and <i>Podarcis lilfordi</i> (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean basin)

Abstract

A survey of the helminth communities of Podarcis pityusensis (Boscá, 1883) and Podarcis lilfordi (Günther, 1874) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the Pityusic and Gimnesic islands, respectively, in the Balearic Islands, Spain, was conducted. Both host species harbour similar though not identical helminth infracommunities. An analysis of the patterns of diversity for all helminths revealed that both lizards have depauperate isolationist infracommunities, possibly as a result of factors such as host ectothermy, the simplicity of their digestive canal, low vagility, and generalist feeding.