Hypopi (Acari: Hypoderatidae) from subcutaneous tissues of the African spoonbill (Aves: Ciconiiformes: Threskiornithidae).
Two new species and a new host record for two additional species of deutonymphs of the family Hypoderatidae are described from subcutaneous adipose tissues of a captive African spoonbill, Platalea alba Scopali. Phalacrodectes (Phalacrodectes) platalea Pence & Duncan, n. sp. most closely resembles P. (P.) whartoni Fain and P. (P.) pelecani Pence & Courtney in chaetotaxy and cuticular sclerotization, but it differs by having secondary perigenital sclerotization surrounding the genital openings and parallel genital papillae. P. (P.) schoutedeni Fain is reexamined for the first time since its original description, which was based on a single specimen from a cormorant; we believe the affinity of this species is closer to those infecting ibises and spoonbills and that the former record was a case of accidental host capture among birds sharing the same rookery. A new host record is established for Neottialges platalea Fain & Laurence from the African spoonbill. The heavy idiosomal sclerotization, incomplete genital apodeme, and long dorsal setae differentiate Neottialges intermedius Pence & Duncan, n. sp. from all other species in the genus. Because this suite of characters was previously used to separate the three subgenera of the genus Neottialges, we propose that Neottialges, Caloenectes, and Pelecanectes should now be considered invalid subgeneric taxa.
Pence
D B
DB
Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79430, USA.
Duncan
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M
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000469:parasitology*; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000662:veterinary; D008925:Mites / Q000145:classification*