Abstract
Feather mites are highly specialized plumage and skin ectoparasites that are variously adapted for inhabiting certain microhabitats on a bird’s body. Different feather mite taxa of higher (familial) rank adapted to the same microhabitats display similar main morphological adaptations even if they are rather distantly related to one another. Hypotheses on the evolution of general adaptations in morphology of feather mites during colonization and establishment in different microhabitats are presented. According to recent data feather mites are a paraphyletic group consisting of three superfamilies: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea and Freyanoidea. We present our view on the general feather mite phylogeny course at the familial rank for the Analgoidea by means of cladistic analysis. Co-speciation of parasites with their hosts is postulated as a main factor driving feather mite evolution. Examples are given of non-coevolutionary events, e.g. recolonization from one host species onto another, extinction and multiple speciation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Atyeo, W.T. and Gaud, J. 1979. Feather mites and their hosts. Rec. Adv. Acar. 2: 355–361.
Atyeo, W.T., Kethley, J.B. and Pérez, T.M. 1984. Paedomorphosis in Metacheyletia (Acari: Cheyletidae), with the description of a new species. J. Med. Entomol. 21 (2): 125–132.
Cerny, V. 1971. Parasite-host relationships in feather mites. Proc. 3rd Intern. Congr. Acarol., Prague, 761764.
Cracraft, J. 1981. Toward a phylogenetic classification on the recent birds of the world (Class Ayes). Auk 98 (4): 681–714.
Dabert, J. and Ehrnsberger, R. 1995. Zur Systematik und Phylogenie der Gattung Thecarthra Trouessart, 1896 (Astigmata, Pterolichoidea, Syringobiidae) mit Beschreibung zweier neuer Arten. Mitt. hamb. zool. Mus. Inst. 92: 87–116.
Dabert, J. and Ehrnsberger, R. 1998. Phylogeny of the feather mite family Ptiloxenidae Gaud, 1982 (Acari: Pterolichoidea). In: Ebermann, E. (ed.), Arthropod biology: Contribution to morphology, ecology and systematics. Biosystematics and Ecology series 14, pp. 145–178.
Dubinin, V.B. 1951. Feather mites (Analgesoidea). Part I. Introduction to their study. - Fauna SSSR, Paukoobraznye, 6(5): 1–363. [In Russian]
Dubinin, V.B. 1953. Feather mites (Analgesoidea). II Families Epidermoptidae and Freyanidae. Fauna SSSR. Paukoobraznye. 6(6): 3–411. [In Russian]
Dubinin, V.B. 1956. Feather mites (Analgesoidea). III Family Pterolichidae. Fauna SSSR. Paukoobraznye. 6(7): 3–814. [In Russian]
Gaud, J. and Atyeo, W.T. 1975. Ovacaridae, une famille nouvelle de sarcoptiformes plumicoles. Acarologia 17: 169–176.
Gaud, J. and Atyeo, W.T. 1976. Discordances entre les aires de répartition géographique des parasites et celles de leurs hôtes chez les sarcoptiformes plumicoles. Acarologia 18: 329–344.
Gaud, J. and Atyeo, W.T. 1977. Nouvelles superfamilles pour les acariens astigmates parasite d’oiseaux. Acarologia 19: 678–685.
Gaud, J. and Atyeo, W.T. 1979. Co-évolution des acariens sarcoptiformes plumicoles et de leurs hôtes. Acarologia 21: 291–306.
Gaud, J. and Atyeo, W.T. 1982. Spécificité parasitaire chez les acariens Sarcoptiformes plumicoles. Mem. Mus. Nat. Hist. Natur. A-123: 1: 247–254.
Gaud, J. and Atyeo, W.T. 1996. Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata): The supraspecific taxa. Part I Text. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Tervuren, Sces zool. 277: 3–193.
Hudson, G.E., Hoff, K.M., Berge, J. van den and Trivette, E.C. 1969. A numerical study of the wing and leg muscles of lari and Alcae. Ibis 111: 459–524.
Kuroda, N. 1954. On the classification and phylogeny of the order Tubinares, particularly the shearwaters (Puffanus) with special consideration on their osteology and habit differentiation. Tokyo, 179 pp.
Lindholm, A.K., Venter, G.J. and Ueckermann, E.A.. 1998. Pesistence of passerine ectoparasites on the diedierik cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius. J. Zool., Lond. 244: 145–153.
McKitrick, M.C. 1991. Phylogenetic analysis of avian hindlimb musculature. Misc. Pubis. Mus. Zool., Univ. Mich. 179: 1–85.
Mironov, S.V. 1982. Distribution of feather mites on the recent birds. Parazitologiia 14: 404–411. [In Russian]
Mironov, S.V. 1987. Morphological adaptations of feather mites to different types of plumage and skin of birds. Parazit. Sb. 34: 114–132. [In Russian]
Mironov, S.V. 1991a. A phylogeny of the feather mites family Avenzoariidae (Acariformes: Analgoidea). Parazitologiia 25(4): 281–296. [In Russian]
Mironov, S.V. 1991b. Coevolutionary relationships of the feather mite family Avenzoaridae (Acariformes: Analgoidea) with birds. Parazitologiia 25(6): 473493. [In Russian]
Moss, W.W., Peterson, P.C. and Atyeo, W.T. 1977. A multivariate assessment of phenetic relationships within the feather mite family Eustathiidae (Acari). Syst. Zool. 26: 386–409.
OConnor, B.M. 1982. Acari: Astigmata. In: Parker S.P. (ed.), Synopsis and classification of living organisms. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 146–169.
Peterson, P.C. 1975. An analysis of host-parasite associations among feather mites ( Acari: Analgoidea). Misc. Pubis ent. Soc. Am. 9: 237–242.
Sibley, C.G. and Ahlquist, J.E. 1990. Phylogeny and classification of birds. A study in molecular evolution. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dabert, J., Mironov, S.V. (1999). Origin and evolution of feather mites (Astigmata). In: Bruin, J., van der Geest, L.P.S., Sabelis, M.W. (eds) Ecology and Evolution of the Acari. Series Entomologica, vol 55. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1343-6_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1343-6_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5200-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1343-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive