Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56

Gastric nematodes from the Plains Goanna, Varanus spenceri (Reptilia: Varanidae), from central Queensland

Citation

Jones, H.I. 2013. Gastric nematodes from the Plains Goanna, Varanus spenceri (Reptilia: Varanidae), from central Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56(2): 457-460. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-08

Published online

17 February 2012

Peer reviewed

Yes

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-08

Keywords

Varanus spenceri, Abbreviata, Hastospiculum, locusts, Australia

Abstract 

Three species of nematode, Abbreviata hastaspicula, A. tumidocapitis and Hastospiculum sp. were recovered from Varanus spenceri. The two species of Abbreviata occur commonly in related varanid species which inhabit the dry hot interior of Australia. Despite differences in habitat and behavioral ecology between V. spenceri and other large sympatric species of Varanus, the wide range of prey taken by large species of Varanus lizards precludes inferring the arthropod intermediate hosts of these nematodes.