First record of parasitic quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) on an avian representative of the order Caprimulgiformes

Abstract

A new species Meitingsunes caprimulgus sp. nov. (Acari: Syringophilidae) from Chordeiles minor (Forster) (Caprimulgiformes: Caprimulgidae) in Colombia is described. This is the first syringophilid record from birds of the order Caprimulgiformes. Up to now, members of the genus Meitingsunes Glowska and Skoracki, 2010 have been recorded only from birds of the order Columbiformes. Because, there is no evidence of direct phylogenetical links between the orders Caprimulgiformes and Columbiformes, the record of M. caprimulgus sp. nov. on the nightjar can be considered as an example of host-shift.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4C96B5A2-2379-44AD-BE0A-A926605A150B

Keywords:

• Acari
• Caprimulgiformes
• ectoparasites
• Meitingsunes
• Syringophilidae
• quill mites

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Gerhard Haszprunar (Director of Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Munich, Germany) for making available samples of dry bird skins for the present study. We also thank Barry Nattress (England, West Yorkshire, Wakefield, Tingley) for critical reviewing the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The studies in the ZSM were financially supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) [grant number A/12/05065].