Helminths of the Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor Linnaeus (Squamata: Colubridae), from North Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract

Twenty-three salvaged specimens of Coluber constrictor constrictor Linnaeus (Northern Black Racer) from North Carolina, U.S.A., were examined for gastrointestinal helminths. Eighteen species of helminths (4 trematodes, 2 cestodes, 10 nematodes, and 2 acanthocephalans) are reported, representing 6 new host records and 6 new geographic distribution records. At 52% prevalence, immature physalopterids were the most prevalent helminth, followed by another nematode, Abbreviata terrapenis, at 43%. Specimens of the cestode Oochoristica sp. were the most prevalent (48%) platyhelminth, and macracanthorhynchid cystacanths were the most prevalent (17%) acanthocephalan.