Endoparasite Patterns in Mammals of the Malayan Rain Forest

Abstract

Helminth—host and blood parasite—host records for lowland rain forest and commensal mammals of the southern Malay Peninsula are examined in relation to host food preferences and habitat. A distinctive pattern of endoparasite frequencies is demonstrated and described for each major parasite category. Parasite records for mammals of other rain forest formations are not yet available for comparison with the data and patterns of correlation presented here. Some implications of these observations for studies in mammalian population genetics are discussed.