The family Nuttalliellidae is represented by just one living species, Nuttalliella namaqua, native to southern and eastern Africa. A unique and ancient host-opportunist, this species shares features of the hard ticks (partly sclerotized scutum) and the soft ticks (leathery outer covering). (4/4)

The soft ticks (family Argasidae) lack the scutum of their relatives, instead having a leathery outer covering. These ticks often remain in the burrows or nests of their hosts rather than actively pursuing ("questing") hosts, and feed for much shorter periods than hard ticks. (3/4)

The hard ticks (family Ixodidae) are likely what you imagine when you think of a tick, distinguished by a sclerotized shield (or scutum) that covers most of the body of males, but only a tiny part of the females, which need to expand with blood, providing plenty of nutrients for their eggs. (2/4)

You probably have a general idea of what a tick looks like, but did you know that there are three distinct families of ticks, each with their own appearance, habitat, and adaptations? These families are the Ixodidae (or hard ticks), Argasidae (or soft ticks), and the Nuttalliellidae. (1/4)

Crouching Parrot, Hidden Louse:
The Kyloring (Pezoporus flaviventris) is a critically endangered species of Australian parrot, and it is host to Forficuloecus pezopori - a species of louse which lives only on the Kyloring and nowhere else.
#Invertebrate 🧪
dailyparasite.blogspot.com/2024/06/forf...

This study found that one parasite, the the Australian Myotis Batfly (Basilia hamsmithi) were less abundant on bats in urban and suburban areas, indicating that urbanization may threaten wild parasite species like these along with their hosts in ways we're just beginning to understand. (3/3)

In a 2022 study, Group co-chair Mackenzie L. Kwak, Vanessa Gorecki, and Gregory Markowsky studied how ectoparasites living on the locally threatened Large-footed Myotis (Myotis macropus) are affected by urbanization in and around Brisbane, Australia. (2/3)

The bat flies (families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are an unusual group of parasitic flies that ride along with (and feed on) bats, usually being found attached to their hosts. But just as they receive sustenance their hosts, they are also vulnerable to whatever threats their hosts face. (1/3)

This species is known from the Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) and the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) in Tasmania. It is threatened by Devil Facial Tumor Disease, a fatal contagious cancer among Tasmanian Devils. Because of this, we consider it co-threatened alongside its host.

Just this month, a team including Specialist Group co-chair Mackenzie Kwak reported the rediscovery of the Plain Thorny-headed Flea (Acanthopsylla saphes), once feared extinct and in dire threat from the decline of its hosts!
Link: doi.org/10.1007/s108...
#conservation #parasite #flea #parasitology

Hello, Bluesky! We're the IUCN SSC Parasite Specialist Group, a part of the Species Survival Commission! We're just starting to understand the important roles parasites play in their ecosystems, and our goal is to determine the threats wildlife parasites face and to conserve rare and unique species!