Ectoparasitism of the feather chewing louse Colpocephalum trichosum on the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus

Authors

Pablo Sebastián Padrón, Laboratorio de Entomología, Museo de Zoología, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
Anahi Hidalgo, Fundación Cóndor Andino (FCA), Quito, Ecuador
Nicole Ormaza, Villa Vet Clínica Veterinaria, Tumbaco, Ecuador
Sebastián Kohn, Fundación Cóndor Andino (FCA), Quito, Ecuador
Fabricio Narvaez, Fundación Cóndor Andino (FCA), Quito, Ecuador
Félix Hernán Vargas, Fundación Cóndor Andino (FCA), Quito, Ecuador

Abstract

Feather chewing lice are common and important ectoparasites of birds. Here we report for the first time the presence of the ectoparasite, Colpocephalum trichosum Harrison1916 (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae on the Andean condor Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758 from the North high Andes of Ecuador in Pichincha province. A total of 20 louse specimens were collected and analyzed from one free-living female juvenile host. Additionally, high resolution photographs of the louse are included, and a discussion on the potential implications of ectoparasites on the conservation of this threatened bird species is presented. Finally, we propose that further studies on Andean Condor ectoparasites should be focused on the potential causes and effects of these interactions.

DOI

10.1080/23766808.2021.1987770

Recommended Citation

Padrón, Pablo Sebastián; Hidalgo, Anahi; Ormaza, Nicole; Kohn, Sebastián; Narvaez, Fabricio; and Vargas, Félix Hernán (2021) "Ectoparasitism of the feather chewing louse Colpocephalum trichosum on the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus," Neotropical biodiversity: Vol. 7: Iss. 1, Article 51.
DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2021.1987770
Available at: https://ikiam.researchcommons.org/neotropical-diversity/vol7/iss1/51