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

[OConnor, Barry]

Among the parasitic Acari, the ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) and chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) are both diverse lineages that include species that parasitize all groups of terrestrial vertebrates. Among the great diversity of other lineages of parasitic Acari, parasitism of amphibians and reptiles is rare compared to utilization of birds or mammals as hosts. Aside from ticks and chiggers, the only acarine parasites of amphibians are respiratory endoparasites in the family Ereynetidae, a group that also includes parasites of birds and mammals. There are a few more on lizards (the trombidiform family Pterygosomatidae, the parasitiform genera Ophionyssus and Draconyssus [Macronyssidae]) and snakes (other Ophionyssus, and the trombidiform Ophioptinae [Harpirhynchidae]). Aside from the Pterygosomatidae, all the other groups clearly have colonized from bird or mammal hosts.
All the best! - Barry

-So many mites, so little time!

Barry M. OConnor                    phone: 734-763-4354
Curator & Professor                 fax: 734-763-4080
Museum of Zoology                 e-mail: bmoc at umich.edu
University of Michigan
1109 Geddes Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079

From: Kenneth Kinman <kennethkinman at webtv.net<mailto:kennethkinman at webtv.net>>
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:01:30 -0400
To: "taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu<mailto:taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>" <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu<mailto:taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] a parasite-host pair which survived the end-Cretaceous extinction

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


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