As a zoogeographical research, an analysis was made on the parasitic nematode fauna of the Japanese Microtinae and Murinae (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae), viz., Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae, C. rutilus mikado, C. rex, Eothenomys andersoni, E. smithii, Microtus montebelli, Apodemus speciosus, A. argenteus and A. peninsulae. A total of 3113 individuals were examined, and 32 nematode species were obtained. Among these nematodes, the speciation and geographical distribution of the Heligmosomoides (Heligmosomidae: Strongylida) were discussed in regard to the fossil records of host mammals and the geological record of the Japanese archipelago. It is considered that H. desportesi was derived from the central part of the Eurasian Continent in the Early Pleistocene and H. kurilensis was derived from Siberia in the Middle Pleistocene. H. neopolygyrus which occurrs in the eastern part of the Eurasian Continent migrated via northern land bridges in the Wurm Glacial Ages. Hence, the formation of parasitic nematode fauna of an endemic rodent group was related to the environment and to the mammalian fauna of the pre-Japanese archipelago in the Pleistocene.
抄録全体を表示