Parasites of endemic and relict vertebrates: a biogeographical review

Abstract

The concept of relict fauna and their parasites is discussed in relation to the fauna of Sri Lanka and the island's zoogeographical affinities with India, Madagascar and Indonesia. An extensive checklist of the endemic/relict vertebrate fauna of Sri Lanka is given, classified by vegetational zones and with the helminth and protozoan parasites included. Parasites known only from Sri Lanka are identified.