Rubén Alonso Carbajal-Márquez

Endoparasites of Crotalus tzabcan (Serpentes: Viperidae), with a checklist in rattlesnakes

The helminth and pentastomid fauna of 50 specimens of Crotalus tzabcan from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico is documented. The examination revealed the presence of three nematode species (Hastospiculum onchocercum, Hexametra boddaertii, and Travassosascaris araujoi), and one pentastomid (Porocephalus crotali). The threee nematode species had the same prevalence (2%), while the pentastomid had a higher prevalence (8%). The pentastomid P. crotali was the most abundant and intense parasite, although it was only found in four snake hosts. Crotalus tzabcan acts as definitive host for the adult helminths and pentastomids, with rodents as the probable intermediate hosts. This work represents the first systematic survey on the parasitic helminth and pentastomid fauna of C. tzabcan, and includes four new geographical records. Additionally, a checklist of helminths and pentastomids reported for Crotalus and Sistrurus is provided. To date, a total of 32 helminth and 7 pentastomid species have been recorded as parasites of rattlesnakes. Nematoda possessed the highest species richness. The genera with the highest number of host species were Mesocestoides and Hexametra, followed by Kalicephalus. The rattlesnake species with the highest number of reported parasites was C. durissus (18 nematodes and 2 pentastomids).

Lithobates magnaocularis Frost & Bagnara, 1974, the Northwest Mexico Leopard Frog (Anura: Ranidae): new state records for Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, Mexico

We report an adult female and subadult specimen of the frog Lithobates magnaocularis Frost & Bagnara, 1974 from tropical deciduous forest habitat in the Municipality of Calvillo, Aguascalientes and Valparaiso, Zacatecas, Mexico. These vouchers represent the first state records of L. magnaocularis for Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, and extend the known distribution of the species through the northeastern portion of the tributaries of the Rio Grande de Santiago basin.

First records of the Chihuahuan Black-headed Snake, Tantilla wilcoxi Stejneger, 1902 (Squamata: Colubridae), in the Mexican state of Jalisco

Based on three specimens, we document the occurrence of Tantilla wilcoxi in the Mexican state of Jalisco. This species was found at two localities, 2.9 km apart, both in the ecotone between xerophytic scrub and oak forest in the arid plains of the municipality of Ojuelos de Jalisco in the northeastern portion of the state.