Helmintos infectando o sapo Bom Jardim Rhinella dapsilis de um enclave de Mata Atlântica no Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Anura is the largest order within amphibians, with about 7,772 species. Being the most numerous, it is also the most well-known order, including the commonly called toads, frogs, and tree frogs. It is characterized by the absence of a tail, except in larval stages, by large hind legs, and by moist, smooth or granular skin rich in glands. Bufonidae is a family of anurans composed of 52 genera, popularly known as "true toads," and they have a cosmopolitan distribution, except for Australia and Madagascar, where they still occur due to artificial introduction. The decline in amphibian populations is a reality that has long been reported and discussed by scientists. This perspective has attracted the attention of researchers, expanding studies on aspects of the ecology of these animals, especially in relation to the study of their parasites. Parasites are, in general, very small organisms that live in an intrinsic association with their hosts. These factors make it difficult to observe their ecological interactions. On the other hand, many studies show how parasites can influence different aspects of their hosts' biology, such as behavior, fitness, trophic interactions, competition, and biodiversity, in addition to directly regulating population sizes. Thus, studies on parasitism are essential for understanding the health of individuals and the community and habitat in which they are embedded. Rhinella dapsilis (Myers and Carvalho, 1945) is widely distributed in the Amazon, from Colombia to Brazil. Despite its wide distribution, information on basic aspects of its biology is scarce, especially regarding helminth parasites. Here, we present data on helminths infecting R. dapsilis in the Baturité Massif, an enclave of the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. Ten taxa were found, including nine nematodes and one acanthocephalan. Cosmocercidae and Rhabdias sp. were the most prevalent taxa. We present six new records and expand knowledge about parasitism in neotropical anurans.