Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) on a wild Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and a zoo-kept Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Tyrol, Austria

TL;DR

This paper reports the first occurrence of chewing lice on a wild Golden eagle and a zoo-kept Eurasian griffon vulture in Austria.

Contribution

It is the first documentation of chewing lice on these bird species in Tyrol, Austria.

Findings

Three chewing lice species were identified on the two birds.

Lice were identified using both morphology and DNA barcoding.

The study highlights the under-researched nature of lice on Accipitriformes.

Abstract

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) are obligate and permanent ectoparasites commonly found on birds. The life cycle of these insects is completed on the body of the host and therefore many are host specific. This is the first report of chewing lice on a wild Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and a zoo-kept Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Tyrol, Austria. Three different species of chewing lice were identified: Craspedorrhynchus aquilinus was found on Aquila chrysaetos and Colpocephalum turbinatum and Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus were found on Gyps fulvus. The lice were identified morphologically and by barcoding. Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) of eagles, vultures, and other Accipitriformes are understudied, and further research is needed.

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