While the photoluminescence of mammal fur is widespread, any potential function based on its optical properties remains speculative. Using paired photoluminescent and non-photoluminescent real-fur rat models in a field experiment, we aimed to test whether nocturnal vertebrates reacted differently to blueish-white photoluminescent fur than to non-photoluminescent fur. Remote cameras were set out in three different habitats (farmland, rainforest and woodland) in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia, over three full moon and three new moon phases. We recorded what species interacted with the models and counted the number of interactions with each model to calculate pair-wise differences of interactions with photoluminescent and non-photoluminescent models. No animal group (marsupial, placental mammal or avian) showed a preference for either model, on either new or full moon, suggesting that they either cannot detect a difference, or that preference is not based on photoluminescent properties. These findings do not support a hypothesis of selective pressure from nocturnal vertebrates acting on the trait of blueish-white photoluminescence in mammal fur.

The helminth parasites of Macropus fuliginosus and Macropus giganteus are reported based on examination of a total of 285 animals extending, for the first time, across the entire geographical range of both species and including, where possible, data from previous regional studies. A total of 64 species of helminths was found including 42 species of strongyloid nematodes in the stomach, seven species of trichostrongyloid nematodes in the pylorus and small intestine and seven species of nematodes in the terminal ileum and large intestine, one species of spirurid nematode in the stomach and six species of cestodes and one species of trematode. Forty-three species were encountered in both M. fuliginosus and M. giganteus. The helminth communities of the two kangaroo species exhibited a similarity of 85.4% based on all helminth species encountered or 91.4% if only the species specific to grey kangaroos were considered. Interchange of helminths between the two species of kangaroos revealed several different patterns with instances both of transfer and lack of transfer in areas of host sympatry as well as transfers beyond the zone of sympatry. The findings are discussed in relationship to the phylogeography of the host species.