Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 1252 No. 1: 6 Jul. 2006
Type: Articles
Published: 2006-07-06
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1252.1.2
Page range: 37–47
Abstract views: 55
PDF downloaded: 3

A new feather mite, Aetacarus elanoides sp. n. (Acari: Gabuci-niidae), from the Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus (Linnaeus) (Falconiformes: Accipitridae; Perninae)

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA 30460
Avian Research and Conservation Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA 32601
Acari Astigmata Pterolichoidea host-mite relationships bird raptor North America

Abstract

We describe a new species of the feather mite genus Aetacarus Gaud & Atyeo, 1975 from the norther n subspecies of the Swallow-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus forficatus (Linnaeus) (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) from the southeastern U.S.A. Aetacarus elanoides sp. n. differs from other described species in the genus by the following combination of features: male with terminal membranes as wide as or wider a t base than long and seta e h1 slightly spatulate a t tip; female with spatulate-mucronate seta e e2 and thick spine-like setae h1. This represents the first described feather mite from E. forficatus, and the first Aetacarus species described from a New World host.

References

  1. Andrew, P. & McAllan, I. (1998) Nomina: Global Bird Dictionary, Relational Taxonomies. CD-ROM. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

    Cely, J. (1979) Status of the Swallow-tailed Kite and factors affecting its distribution. In: D.M. Forsythe & Ezell, Jr., W.B. (Eds.), Proceedings of the first South Carolina endangered species symposium. S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resource Department, Columbia, South Carolina, 144–150.

    Clayton, D.H. & Drown, D.M. (2001) Critical evaluation of five methods for quantifying chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera). Journal of Parasitology, 87, 1291–1300.

    Clements, J.F. (1991) Birds of the World: A Checklist. 4th ed. Ibis Publishing, Vista. 620 pp.

    Dubinin, V.B (1956) Feather mites (Analgesoidea). Part IIII. Family Pterolichidae. Fauna USSR, Paukoobraznye, 6, 1–813 [in Russian].

    Gaud, J. (1983) Acariens sarcoptiformes plumicoles des oiseaux Falconiformes d’Afrique. II. Parasites des Accipitridae et Sagitariidae (Acariens Gabuciniidae). Revue de Zoologie africaine, 97, 737–766.

    Gaud, J & Atyeo, W.T. (1975) Gabuciniidae, famille nouvelle de Sarcoptiformes plumicoles. Acarologia, 16, 522–561.

    Gaud, J. & Atyeo, W.T. (1996) Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata): the supraspecific taxa. Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Annales, Sciences Zoologiques, 277, Part 1: 193 pp., Part 2: 436 pp.

    Gaud, J. & Mouchet, J. (1959) Acariens plumicoles (Analgesoidea) des oiseaux du Cameroun. V. Pterolichidae. Annales de parasitologie humaine et comparée, 34, 493–545.

    Lerner, H.R.L. & Mindell, D.P. (2005) Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37, 327–346.

    Mégnin, P. & Trouessart, E.L. (1884) Les Sarcoptides plumicoles. Journal of Micrography, 8, 331–338.

    Meyer, K.D. (1995) Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). In: A. Poole, A. & Gill, F. (Eds.), The Birds of North America. Academy of National Science, Philadelphia, and American Ornithological Union, Washington, D. C., No. 138, 1–22.

    Philips, J.R. (2000) A review and checklist of the parasitic mites (Acarina) of the Falconiformes and Strigiformes. Journal of Raptor Research, 34, 210–231.

    Radford, C.D. (1958) The host-parasite relationships of the feather mites (Acarina: Analgesoidea). Revista brasileira de entomologia, 8, 107–170.

    Zimmerman, G.M. (2004) Studies of the annual cycle of the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus): migration, habitat use, and parasites. M.Sc. thesis, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. 130 pp.