An electrophoretic analysis of patterns of speciation in Cloacina clarkae, C. communis, C. petrogale and C. similis (Nematoda:Strongyloidea) from macropodid marsupials.

An electrophoretic study was conducted on Cloacina clarkae, C. communis, C. petrogale and C. similis based on 19 enzyme loci. C. communis was widely distributed in Macropus robustus, showing some genetic variation among populations but occasionally switching to other macropodid hosts (M. agilis, M. antilopinus). C. similis occurred in members of the Petrogale penicillata complex, Macropus dorsalis and Thylogale billardierii, but showed no evidence of genetic differentiation in spite of its occurrence in different host species and in geographically distinct regions of Australia. C. clarkae from Macropus eugenii was genetically indistinguishable from C. similis and was considered synonymous with it. C. petrogale occurred in a similarly diverse range of hosts and geographical regions to C. similis, but was represented electrophoretically as 4 distinct genetic species, 1 in Petrogale assimilis, a second in P. lateralis purpureicollis, a third in Macropus parryi in Queensland and a fourth in M. eugenii in South Australia. Although the host and geographical ranges of C. similis and C. petrogale are analogous, the genetic uniformity of the former and diversity of the latter illustrate the incomplete understanding we have of the immediate causes of speciation in nematodes.