Proctophyllodidae
Encyclopedia
The Proctophyllodidae are a family
of the Acarina (mite
) order
Astigmata
. They contain many feather mite
s. The Alloptidae and Trouessartiidae were in earlier times included here as subfamilies.
Proctophyllodidae females are extremely similar among species
and sometimes even hard to assign to a genus
, while males vary much more. Two subfamilies are generally recognized, the Proctophyllodinae and the Pterodectinae. The main difference is that the female pregenital apodeme and epimerites IV are separated, while in the latter they are connected and form a distinct structure.
, family Proctophyllodinae) are ectoparasites that live in between the barbs of feathers and are found on nearly every bird species currently described. It was previously believed that these mites had a parasitic relationship with their hosts but it is now thought that most species are more commensal with their hosts. Morphological studies have provided strong evidence for this with feather mite mouthparts being identified as unstructured for biting on solid material. Instead it is suggested that they feed on oils and fats secreted from the uropygial gland
as well as pollen, fungus and dead epidermis tissue that is trapped within it.
, they have biting mouhtparts with a very small gnathosoma compared to body size.
have supported this observation (Birds of prey have the greatest chance of cross contamination through interactions with their prey and yet have very stable acarofauna groups are found exclusively on those species. The European Cuckoo
, a brood parasite
, has also been found to have their own species of mite even though the parents and offspring never interact (but see Lindholm et al., 1998)
Pterodectinae
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of the Acarina (mite
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
) order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Astigmata
Astigmata
The Astigmatina are a "cohort" of mites. They belong to the Sarcoptiformes, which contain the "biting" Acariformes. Many species are parasites of vertebrates. Most notorious among these are the Psoroptidia, which contain such notable taxa as feather mites and Sarcoptes scabiei.The Astigmata are of...
. They contain many feather mite
Feather mite
Feather mites are the members of diverse mite superfamilies:* superorder Acariformes** Psoroptidia*** Analgoidea*** Freyanoidea*** Pterolichoidea* superorder Parasitiformes** DermanyssoideaThey are ectoparasites on birds, hence the common name....
s. The Alloptidae and Trouessartiidae were in earlier times included here as subfamilies.
Proctophyllodidae females are extremely similar among species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and sometimes even hard to assign to a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, while males vary much more. Two subfamilies are generally recognized, the Proctophyllodinae and the Pterodectinae. The main difference is that the female pregenital apodeme and epimerites IV are separated, while in the latter they are connected and form a distinct structure.
General
Feather mites (subclass AcarinaAcarina
Acari are a taxon of arachnids that contains mites and ticks. The diversity of the Acari is extraordinary and its fossil history goes back to at least the early Devonian period. As a result, acarologists have proposed a complex set of taxonomic ranks to classify mites...
, family Proctophyllodinae) are ectoparasites that live in between the barbs of feathers and are found on nearly every bird species currently described. It was previously believed that these mites had a parasitic relationship with their hosts but it is now thought that most species are more commensal with their hosts. Morphological studies have provided strong evidence for this with feather mite mouthparts being identified as unstructured for biting on solid material. Instead it is suggested that they feed on oils and fats secreted from the uropygial gland
Uropygial gland
The uropygial gland, informally known as the preen gland, is a gland found in the large majority of birds that secretes an oil that birds use for preening. The chief compounds of preen oil are diester waxes called uropygiols....
as well as pollen, fungus and dead epidermis tissue that is trapped within it.
Morphology
Feather mites are streamlined; strongly dorsoventrally flattened with short legs and well-developed ambulacra that act as a hold-fast organ. Being of the order AstigmataAstigmata
The Astigmatina are a "cohort" of mites. They belong to the Sarcoptiformes, which contain the "biting" Acariformes. Many species are parasites of vertebrates. Most notorious among these are the Psoroptidia, which contain such notable taxa as feather mites and Sarcoptes scabiei.The Astigmata are of...
, they have biting mouhtparts with a very small gnathosoma compared to body size.
Transmission
Morphological constraints suggest that adult mites are nearly immobile. Transmission of mites has been shown to occur largely between direct interactions between parents and offspring and possibly during gregarious interactions between flock individuals. Observations of restricted species contamination on falconiformesFalconiformes
The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...
have supported this observation (Birds of prey have the greatest chance of cross contamination through interactions with their prey and yet have very stable acarofauna groups are found exclusively on those species. The European Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
The Common Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals....
, a brood parasite
Brood parasite
Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood parasitism, a kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite...
, has also been found to have their own species of mite even though the parents and offspring never interact (but see Lindholm et al., 1998)
Selected genera
Proctophyllodinae- Allodectes Gaud & Berla, 1963 – tentatively placed here
- Anisophyllodes Atyeo, 1967
- Bradyphyllodes Atyeo and Gaud, 1970
- Diproctophyllodes Atyeo and Gaud, 1968
- Favettea Trouessart, 1915
- Hemipterodectes Berla, 1959
- Joubertophyllodes Atyeo & Gaud, 1971
- Monojoubertia Radford, 1950
- Nycteridocaulus Atyeo, 1966
- Philepittalges Atyeo, 1966
- Proctophyllodes Robin, 1877
- Ptyctophyllodes Atyeo, 1967
- Tanyphyllodes Atyeo, 1966
Pterodectinae
- Anisodiscus Gaud & Mouchet, 1957
- Dolichodectes
- Megalodectes
- Montesauria Oudemans, 1905
- Neodectes
- Pedanodectes
- Proterothrix Gaud, 1968
- Pterodectes Robin, 1877 – possibly not monophyletic
- Syntomodectes
- Toxerodectes
- Trochilodectes
- Xynonodectes