An Ecological Study of the Helminth Parasites of Amphibians and Reptiles of Western Massachusetts and Vicinity

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Abstract
A taxonomic and ecological survey has been made of helminth parasites of amphibians and reptiles collected near Amherst, Mass. 262 hosts were examined. 27 spp. of helminths were collected: 12 trema-todes, 10 nematodes, 4 cestodes, 1 acanthocephalan. Aquatic habitats seem to lead to infection with more spp. and numbers of parasites, more chance of accidental and multiple infections than do terrestrial habitats. Distribution of helminths depends on many factors, including habitat, life-cycle of host and parasite, and host-specificity. Such variation is found in taxonomic characters of some flukes, as in Plagitura spp., that doubt is raised as to their validity. A possible explanation of such conditions is offered in that many variations in an isogenic stock may be due to environmental rather than to genetic factors. The distribution records for the helminths found are new.

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