The First Survey for Helminths Parasitic in Hybrid and Introduced Giant Salamanders, Genus Andrias (Amphibia: Caudata: Cryptobranchidae) in Kyoto, Japan

Abstract: The first survey was conducted for helminth fauna of hybrid giant salamanders (hybrids between Andrias japonicus and other congeneric species), and introduced A. davidianus in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Three nematode species, Spiroxys hanzaki, Amphibiocapillaria tritonispunctati and Falcaustra sp., and one trematode species, Liolope copulans, were recovered from their alimentary canals. These results show that hybrid and introduced Andrias species are commonly infected with similar helminth species to those previously reported to infect A. japonicus. We conclude that the spillback of native parasites to introduced A. davidianus has occurred in Kyoto Prefecture. This study is also the first record of Falcaustra species parasitizing Andrias species in Japan.