A review of the nematode assemblages of the genus Perameles (Peramelidae), Australian bandicoots, held in the South Australian Museum

ABSTRACT A total of 210 vials of nematodes collected from four species of Perameles (representing 15 individuals of P. bougainville, 83 of P. gunnii, 54 of P. nasuta and 19 of P. pallescens) held in the Australian Helminthological Collection of the South Australian Museum were examined. Nematodes were identified and parasite assemblages of the four hosts were compared. Using only the number of nematodes identified to species as an indicator of diversity, the nematode community of P. bougainville was the most depauperate (4 species) followed by P. gunnii (11 species), P. pallescens (12 species) and P. nasuta (20 species). None of the species were found in all four hosts. Excluding P. bougainville, Sorensen’s index of similarity showed that P. gunnii and P. pallescens had the least similar, 0.26, and P. pallescens and P. nasuta the most similar, 0.50, nematode communities. Linstowinema warringtoni Smales, 1997, Mackerrastrongylus peramelis (Johnston & Mawson, 1938) and Peramelistrongylus skedastos Mawson, 1960 were found in three hosts, P. gunnii, P. nasuta and P. pallescens. Each of the four hosts had a unique species profile: four species of Physaloptera being found in P. nasuta, three in P. pallescens, one in P. gunnii and none in P. bougainville. Of the trichostrongyloids, Mackerrastrongylus peramelis was the most prevalent in P. pallescens and Peramelistrongylus skedastos in P. gunnii and P. nasuta. The influence of nematode collection techniques, sample sizes and host geographic range and ecology may have had on the assemblages we observed is discussed.