Host-parasite associations of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in rock wallabies, Petrogale spp. (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)

Abstract

Seven new species of Eimeria are described from oocysts present in the faeces of nine species of rock wallabies ( Petrogale spp.) The distribution of Eimeria spp. by host coincided in many cases with species groups of rock wallabies defined in other studies. E. sharmani new species was found in all members of the lateralis-penicillata species group: 14 45 P. assimilis, 7 24 P. godmani, 3 14 P. inornata, 10 20 P. penicillata, 4 18 P. lateralis and 1 6 P. rothschildi. E. petrogale new species was found in 40 P. assimilis, 15 P. godmani, 12 P. inornata, 19 P. penicillata, 2 P. lateralis, and from 1 3 P. persephone. E. boonderooensis new species was found in 12 P. assimilis and 7 P. inornata; E. godmani new species in 3 P. godmani and 1 P. assimilis; E. inornata new species in 1 P. inornata and 1 P. penicillata ; and an unnamed coccidian in 1 P. penicillata. E. occidentalis new species was present in 2 P. lateralis, 2 P. rothschildi, and in 2 8 P. brachyotis, of the cytogenetically distinct brachyotis species group. E. xanthopus new species was found only in 6 7 P. xanthopus. the principal member of the third species group. Where an Eimeria species is found in rock wallabies of more than one species group, the hosts have geographically contiguous ranges. A character Wagner tree, illustrating relationships among the host species computed on the basis of host-parasite associations, corresponds closely with phylogenies suggested on the basis of cytogenetic and isoenzyme studies.