Revision of the genus Galagocheles Fain (Acari: Cheyletidae), parasites of galagos (Primates: Galagonidae).
Galagocheles Fain, 1979 (Acari: Cheyletidae), comprising permanent parasites of African prosimian primates (Galagonidae), is revised. An amended diagnosis of the genus based on characters of adults and immatures is given. The type-species, G. lemuricola (Lawrence, 1948), from Otolemur garnetti (Ogilby) (type-host) and O. crassicaudatus Geoffroy, is redescribed, and G. lawrencei n. sp. is described from Galago senegalensis Geoffroy (type-host) and G. moholi Smith. The new species differs from G. lemuricola by its smaller body size, the obtuse posterior end of the opisthosoma in males, and by fine, nude setae ps3 in females. The systematics of the cheyletid tribe Niheliini and host-parasite associations of its species are briefly discussed. The tribe Criokerontini is included to the tribe Niheliini. It is suggested that the ancestors of the tribe Niheliini were predaceous cheyletids associated with the nests of arboreal mammals, and the association of Nihelia spp. on mongooses (Herpestidae) is the result of the host-switching from some ancient arboreal mammal.
Bochkov
Andre V
AV
Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. prostigmata@zin.ru
Mironov
Sergey V
SV
OConnor
Barry M
BM
D000053:Acari / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D005701:Galago / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D013045:Species Specificity