Zoology

My research interest focuses on the historical relationships among nematodes and their mammalian hosts across the neotropics. In particular, I am interested in having a better understanding of the phenomena of host capture and host switching. By dissecting the intricate evolutionary histories of both mammals and parasites, I plan to obtain a better understanding of the processes that resulted in the diversification of the fauna of the New World. Additionally, the study of nematode parasitoses may provide valuable insights into the dynamics in the transmission of parasites to syntopic hosts. The understanding of the historical associations among parasites and their hosts necessitates the completion of several subsidiary goals. First, the biodiversity of the Neotropics needs to be inventoried by describing the species that occur across the diverse biomes. Second, the distribution of those species needs to be documented in detail, since there are areas of the continent with little or no information about the distribution of parasites. Third, we need to postulate robust phylogenetic hypotheses of those groups of parasites that occur across the Neotropics, analyzing and understanding the available evidence.

For more information on the research program within the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and my own research efforts, please see my lab webpage.

Recent Publications

Jiménez, F. A., F. M. Catzeflis, S. L. Gardner. 2011. Structure of parasite component communities of didelphid marsupials: insights from a comparative study. Journal of Parasitology 97 (5): 779 - 787

Navone, G. T., M. C. Ezquiaga, J. Notarnicola, and F. A. Jiménez. 2010. A new species of Cyclobulura (Nematoda: Subuluridae) from Zaedyus pichiy and Chaetophractus vellerosus (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae) in Argentina. Journal of Parasitology 96 (6): 1191 - 1196

Salazar-Bravo, J., J. Vargas, J. M. Savage, and A. Jimenez-Ruiz. 2010. Range extension for Atractus boettgeri (Serpentes: Colubridae), with notes on taxonomy and natural history. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 81 (3): 925 - 929

Notarnicola, J., F. A. Jiménez, and S. L. Gardner. 2010. Litomosoides (Nemata: Filaroidea) of bats from Bolivia with records for 3 known species and the description of a new species. Journal of Parasitology 96 (4): 775 - 782

Tito, R.Y., S. Macmil, G. Wiley, F. Najar, L. Cleeland, C. Qu, P. Wang, F. Romagne, S. Leonard, A. Jiménez Ruiz, K. Reinhard, B. A. Roe, C. M. Lewis, Jr. 2008. Phylotyping and functional analysis of two ancient human microbiomes. PLoS ONE 3 (11): e3703. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003703

Jiménez, F. A., J. K. Braun, M. L. Campbell, and S. L. Gardner. 2008. Endoparasites of fat-tailed mouse opossums (Thylamys: Didelphidae) from northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia, with the description of a new species of tapeworm. Journal of Parasitology 94 (5): 1098 - 1102.

Jiménez-Ruiz, F. A., S. L. Gardner, D. Noronha, and R. M. Pinto. 2008. The systematic position of Lauroiinae Skrjabin and Schikhobalova, 1951 (Nemata: Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae), as revealed by the analysis of traits used in its diagnosis. Cladistics. 24 (4): 459 - 476.

Jiménez, F. A., V. León-Règagnon, and E. Pérez-Ramos. 2008. Two new species of Parapharyngodon (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) from the enigmatic Bipes canaliculatus and Bipes tridactylus (Squamata: Bipedidae). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 79 (Supplement): 113S - 120S.

Jiménez-Ruiz, F. A., A. S. Varela-Stokes and S. L. Gardner. 2006. Aspidoderidae from North America with the description of a new species of Aspidodera (Heterakoidea). Journal of Parasitology 92: 847-854.

Dronen, N. O., S. L. Gardner, and F. A. Jiménez. 2006. Haematotrephus limnodromi n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae) from the Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopacceus (Scolopacidae) from the central flyway of North America. Zootaxa 1153: 51-61.

Jiménez-Ruiz, F. A. and S. L. Gardner. 2003. Aspidoderid nematodes from Bolivian armadillos, with the description of a new species of Lauroia (Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae). Journal of Parasitology 89: 978-983.

Jiménez-Ruiz, F. A., L. García-Prieto, and G. Pérez-Ponce de León. 2002. Helminth infracommunity structure of the sympatric garter snakes, Thamnophis eques and Thamnophis melanogaster from the Mesa Central of Mexico. Journal of Parasitology 88: 454-460.