Composition of the helminth community of a Montane population of the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana (Phrynosomatidae) from Los Angeles County, California

Six hundred sixty-three Uta stansburiana from the San Gabriel Mountains, Lo s Angeles County California collected at monthly intervals from February 19 74 to January 1975 were examined for helminths. One species of cestode, Ooc horistica macallisteri, two species of nematodes, Physaloptera retusa (larv ae) and Spauligodon giganticus and one species of an oligacanthorhynchid ac anthocephalan (cystacanths) were found. Spauligodon giganticus had the high est prevalence (23%) and greatest mean abundance (1.0 +/- 3.7 SD). It was p resent in 11 of the 12 mo studied. This is the first report of an oligacant horhynchid acanthocephalan for U. stansburiana. Infection prevalences and m ean intensities appear to be determined by a lizard's position within the h abitat and its behavior patterns.