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Megninia casuaricola sp. n. (Acari: Analgidae), the first feather mite from a cassowary (Aves: Struthioniformes: Casuariidae) by Heather C Proctor is a Agricultural and Biological Sciences article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Megninia casuaricola sp. n. (Acari: Analgidae), the first feather mite from a cassowary (Aves: Struthioniformes: Casuariidae) about?

## Abstract A new species of mite from the family Analgidae, __Megninia casuaricola__ sp. n., is described from the feathers of a southern cassowary, __Casuarius casuarius__ (L.). Until now, cassowaries were among the few terrestrial birds thought to be without feather mites. The new species of mite is readily distinguished from other described species of __Megninia__ Berlese by the lack of vertical setae (__vi__) in all stages, poorly developed tibial spurs on legs I and II, and elongate and deeply incised terminal lobes in the male. __Megninia__ species are primarily associated with galliform birds, but are also known from Coliiformes, Cuculiformes and Columbiformes. Feather mites have now been collected from most living genera of ratites (__Struthio__ L., __Rhea__ Brisson, __Apteryx__ Shaw, __Casuarius__ Brisson, but not __Dromaius__ Vieillot). Host ranges and phylogenetic affiliations of these mites do not support the common belief that ratites represent a primitive palaeognathous lineage; rather, they agree more readily with the hypothesis that ratites are descendants of relatively recent neognathous birds.

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Author

Heather C Proctor

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (Blackwell Publishing); Blackwell Publishing Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 1326-6756)

Published

2001

Language

EN

Field

Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)