Ischnocera
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Ischnocera | |
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Undetermined Strigiphilus species from a Ural owl (Strix uralensis), side view | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Psocodea |
Suborder: | Troctomorpha |
Infraorder: | Nanopsocetae |
Parvorder: | Phthiraptera |
Superfamily: | Ischnocera |
Families[1] | |
The Ischnocera is a large
parasitic on birds, but including a large family (the Trichodectidae) parasitic on mammals. The genus Trichophilopterus is also found on mammals (lemurs), but probably belongs to the "avian Ischnocera" and represents a host switch from birds to mammals. It is a chewing louse, which feeds on the feathers and skin debris of birds. Many of the avian Ischnocera have evolved an elongated body shape. This allows them to conceal themselves between the feather shafts and avoid being dislodged during preening
or flight.
The taxonomy of the group is in need of revision, as several
paraphyletic, specifically in regards to the two major families Philopteridae and Trichodectidae. In order to resolve this, in 2020 de Moya et al. proposed retaining the majority of the species (including Philopteridae) within Ischnocera, and then moving Trichodectidae to its own grouping called Trichodectera.[2]
Ischnocera currently consists of the following families:[1]
- Philopteroidea
- Goniodidae
- Heptapsogasteridae
- Lipeuridae
- Philopteridae (paraphyletic)
- Trichophilopteridae
- Trichodectoidea
References
- ^ a b Johnson, Kevin P.; Smith, Vincent S. (2021). "Psocodea species file online, Version 5.0". Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ISSN 1063-5157.