A new feather mite of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini 1899 (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from the Seychelles magpie-robin, Copsychus sechellarum (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae)

Acta Parasitol. 2016 Sep 1;61(3):629-35. doi: 10.1515/ap-2016-0084.

Abstract

A new feather mite species, Trouessartia sechellarum sp. n. (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae), is described from the Seychelles magpie-robin Copsychus sechellarum (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae), an endangered endemic passerine bird inhabiting the Seychelles Islands. The most clear features distinguishing this mite from the related species, T. microfolia Gaud, 1952, are as follows: in both sexes, setae c2 do not exceed 30 μm and are subequal in length to setae c3 and sRIII; in males, the hysteronotal shield is completely split into the prohysteronotal and lobar parts by a narrow groove, and the terminal lamellae are attenuate apically; in females, the median part of the hysteronotal shield bears numerous ovate lacunae, the terminal cleft width is approximately equal to the opisthosomal lobe width, and the collar of the spermathecal head is smooth.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology*
  • Body Size
  • Feathers / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mite Infestations / parasitology
  • Mite Infestations / veterinary*
  • Mites / anatomy & histology
  • Mites / classification*
  • Mites / genetics
  • Passeriformes / parasitology*
  • Seychelles