Helminth-Parasites of Rock-Wallabies, Petrogale Spp (Marsupialia), From Queensland

Abstract

Helminth parasites were examined from the following rock-wallaby species from Queensland: Petrogale penicillata penicillata (2), P. penicillata herberti (1l), P. inornata (15), P. assirnilis (36), 'Mareeba' (3) and 'Mt Claro' (4) chromosomal races of P. assirnilis, P. godrnani (13), P. lateralis purpureicollis (3), and P. persephone (2). Of the 41 species of nematodes and the six species of cestodes encountered, relatively few (10 of 47) were restricted to rock-wallabies. Major differences occurred between the helminth communities of rock-wallabies from different regions, suggesting that many parasite species may have been acquired by rock-wallabies from sympatric, but unrelated, macropodid hosts. The helminth communities of rock-wallabies thus appear not to have co-evolved closely with their hosts.