Unusual parasite from an enigmatic host – a new group of mites infesting feather quills of the hoatzin

Abstract

Hoatzin, a unique species endemic to Neotropics, has puzzled avian systematists since it was described 244 years ago. Despite its enigmatic origin and unparalleled life cycle, behavior, and mode of life, its parasites only occasionally were investigated. In this study, a new species Calamicoptes hoazinus n. sp. (Laminosioptidae: Fainocoptinae) was described, based on females found in the quill-wall of the primary feather of the hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin (Statius Muller) (Opisthocomiformes: Opisthocomidae). Following on this we also constructed the key to all known species of the genus Calamicoptes. Importantly, our finding represents the first record of the family Laminosioptidae from the opisthocomiform bird and the first record of this mite family in the Neotropical realm. Scarce records of parasite-host interactions in this group, missing molecular data, and the absence of any phylogenetic study allows only to speculate about evolutionary events leading to observed distribution on the extant Neornithian host tree.