RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE RUGOPHARYNX-DELTA SPECIES COMPLEX (NEMATODA,STRONGYLOIDEA) FROM AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS INFERRED FROM ALLOZYME ELECTROPHORETIC DATA

Relationships between the strongyloid nematodes Rugopharynx delta, R. zeta, R. omega, R. longibursaris, R. mawsonae and R. sigma, all from m acropodid marsupials, were investigated using allozyme data. The phylo genetic trees derived from the electrophoretic data set were congruent with those of the hosts and were consistent with the hypothesis that the species complex originated in pademelons of the genus Thylogale an d diversified in rock-wallabies (Petrogale spp.) and scrub wallabies o f the subgenus Notamacropus. Host switching is evident only between cl osely related macropodid taxa.