Composition and Structure of Helminth Communities of the Salamanders, Aneides lugubris, Batrachoseps nigriventris, Ensatina eschscholtzii (Plethodontidae), and Taricha torosa (Salamandridae) from California

Component helminth communities of Aneides lugubris (N = 31), Batrachoseps nigriventris (N = 63), Ensatina eschscholtzii (N = 30), and Taricha torosa (N = 68) from California were determined. The compound helminth community consisted of 1 species of cestode, Bitegmen gerrhonoti and 6 species of nematodes, Batracholandros salamandrae, Cosmocer- coides variabilis, Falcaustra pretiosa, Megalobatrachonema gigantica, Oswaldocruzia pipiens, and Rhabdias joaquinensis. The least diverse infracommunities were associated with Batrachoseps nigriventris while T. torosa had the most diverse fauna. Only B. salamandrae occurred in each of the 4 component communities. Each of the other helminth species was harbored by a single host species. New host records for B. salamandrae in B. nigriventris and T. torosa; 0. pipiens in A. lugubris; C. variabilis in E. eschscholtzii; F. pretiosa and M. gigantica in T. torosa are established.