A new species of Aquanirmus Clay & Meinertzhagen (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) parasitic on the Great Grebe, Podiceps major (Aves: Podicipedidae), in Argentina and Chile

Abstract

RESUMEN-Se describe e ilustra la nueva especie Aquanirmus major Cicchino & González Acuña hospedada en ejemplares de Podiceps major provenientes de distintas localidades de Argentina y Chile, entregando afi nidades y diferencias con las restantes tres especies incluidas en el complejo A. emersoni.

First Record of Aquanirmus major Cicchino & González Acuña (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) on the Great Grebe, Podiceps major Boddaert (Aves: Podicipedidae) in Brazil

“…He also provided a thorough characterization of the genus, with re-descriptions for the 10 species recognized up to that time. Since Edward's work, three new species have been described (Kettle 1974, Castro Cicchino 2000, Cicchino & González-Acuña 2009. This is the irst record of a species de Aquanirmus in Brazil, increasing the worldwide distribution of this seldom studied group of chewing lice.…”

“…The genus Aquanirmus Clay & Meinertzhagen (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) comprises 13 species of chewing lice that parasitize grebes (Aves: Podicipedidae) (Edwards 1965, Kettle 1974, Castro Cicchino 2000, Cicchino & González-Acuña 2009. Aquanirmus major Cicchino & González Acuña was recently described based on material collected from the great grebe, Podiceps major in Argentina and Chile (Cicchino & González-Acuña 2009).…”

“…Aquanirmus major Cicchino & González Acuña was recently described based on material collected from the great grebe, Podiceps major in Argentina and Chile (Cicchino & González-Acuña 2009). This report is the irst record of a species of Aquanirmus in Brazil and it increases the known geographical distribution of A. major.…”

“…In the laboratory, lice were slide-mounted in Canadian balsam and identi ied using appropriate keys and original species descriptions (Edwards 1965, Price et al 2003, Cicchino & González-Acuña 2009. Measurements are given in millimeters.…”

“…They showed relatively large head (cephalic index = 1.142- The speci ic identi ication is usually based on the morphology of male genitalia (Edwards 1965). However, the female of A. major can be distinguished from other closely related females (e.g., Aquanirmus emersoni Edwards and Aquanirmus podylimbus Edwards) by size and most of the body measurements as well as in proportions of the head (Cicchino & González-Acuña 2009). In the mid 1960s, Edwards (1965) revised the genus Aquanirmus, describing four new species and two subspecies.…”