[Taxacom] a parasite-host pair which survived the end-Cretaceous extinction

[Kenneth Kinman]

Dear All, 
       An interesting update on the arthropod
blood-suckers discussion on DML.   Lice and fleas (insects) apparently
prefer hosts with hairs or feathers that they can latch onto. On the
other hand, ticks and mites (arachnids) are apparently not so particular
and also parasitize amphibians and reptiles which are ectothermic. Off
hand, I'm not sure of the overall significance of this, and will have to
mull it over when I am not so tired. 
       But an interesting subject in any case.   I guess
the mites have the overall edge, since they parasitize a much broader
range of organisms, and are not so dependent (as a group) on just
vertebrate blood.               
                  ---------------Ken
Kinman    

http://dml.cmnh.org/2011Apr/msg00097.html