Ixodes microgalei

Ixodes microgalei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Ixodida
Family:	Ixodidae
Genus:	Ixodes
Species:	I. microgalei
Binomial name
	Ixodes microgalei; Apanaskevich, Soarimalala & Goodman, 2013

Last updated September 10, 2022

Ixodes microgalei is a species of Ixodes that was discovered in the humid eastern forests of the Antananarivo Province in Madagascar.^[1] Females of this species parasitize various species of shrew tenrecs of the genus Microgale (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae, Oryzorictinae). All members of the genus Microgale, as well as of the larger subfamily to which that genus belongs, are endemic to Madagascar.^[2]

Distinguishing characteristics

The external morphology of females of the species I. microgalei closely resemble that of females of the species Ixodes colasbelcouri and Ixodes nesomys . All 3 species have long, narrow, tapering auriculae (lateral protrusions found on the ventral surface of their basis capituli, an apical region that is formed by the basal portions of their 2 pedipalps) and several unique structure on their coxae (the most basal of the several segments that constitute each of their legs), including internal spurs on their first pair of coxae (coxae I); small but distinct external spurs on their first pair of coxae (coxae I); and syncoxae (posterior regions that have a lighter color or texture) on their first, second, and third pairs of coxae (coxae I-III). However, females of the species I. microgalei are easily distinguishable from females of the species I. colasbelcouri thanks to their possession of distinctly shorter spurs on their fourth pair of coxae (coxae IV) and from female I. nesomys thanks to the notably longer spurs that they possess on their first pair of (coxae I); the larger areas of syncoxae that they possess on their first, second, and third pairs of coxae (coxae I-III); and the larger and deeper punctations that they possess on their scutum (the inflexible shells that cover much of the posterior surface of their bodies).

Distribution and hosts

Ixodes microgalei is confined to Madagascar and is currently known only from the Antananarivo Province. All specimens of I. microgalei, which include exclusively of females as of 2013, have been collected from shrew tenrecs, and specifically from the species Microgale dobsoni , Microgale parvula , and Microgale soricoides . All of 3 of these host species have broad geographical distributions within the humid forests of Madagascar, which span much of the 1,300 km length of the Antananarivo Province, and frequently occur in sympatry. Given the extensive geographical distributions of M. dobsoni, M. parvula, and M. soricoides, there is no obvious ecological reason to believe why I. microgalei, which parasitizes all 3, would be restricted to the Antananarivo Province; consequently, researchers suspect that with further collections, I. microgalei will be found in other areas of the eastern humid forest. In the forests of Tsinjoarivo, where the holotype for I. microgalei was collected, 11 species of Microgale are known to occur within the same immediate region.^[3]

Etymology

The species is named after Microgale , the mammalian host genus upon which it is found.

Related Research Articles

The order Afrosoricida contains the golden moles of Southern Africa, the otter shrews of equatorial Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar. These three families of small mammals have traditionally been considered to be a part of the order Insectivora, and were later included in Lipotyphla after Insectivora was abandoned as a wastebasket taxon, before Lipotyphla was also found to be polyphyletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenrec</span> Family of small mammals

A tenrec is any species of mammal within the afrotherian family Tenrecidae endemic to Madagascar. Tenrecs are widely diverse; as a result of convergent evolution some resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, rats, or mice. They occupy aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial environments. Some of these species, including the greater hedgehog tenrec, can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. However, the speciation rate in this group has been higher in humid forests.

The web-footed tenrec, Malagasy otter shrew, or aquatic tenrec is the only known semiaquatic tenrec, and is found in eastern Madagascar, especially in and around Ranomafana National Park. It grows to between 25 and 39 cm, and was once thought to be extinct. It feeds on crabs, aquatic insects, and crayfish. The population is considered vulnerable. It was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Limnogale, but has been moved to Microgale based on molecular data showing it to be deeply nested within the latter.

Microgale is a genus of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. There are 21 living species on the island of Madagascar and one extinct species known from a fossil. Some species have been discovered in the last twenty years.

Cowan's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae.

Dobson's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. On the basis of molecular data indicating that it and Talazac's shrew tenrec form a sister group to the rest of Microgale, these two species were transferred from Microgale to Nesogale in 2016.

Drouhard's shrew tenrec, also known as the striped shrew tenrec, is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The dryad shrew tenrec, also known as the tree shrew tenrec, is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is vulnerable to extinction by habitat loss.

The pale shrew tenrec, also known as the pale-footed shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The gracile shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Jenkins's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The montane shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

The pygmy shrew tenrec is a species of placental mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. While it is not endangered, its population is slowly declining as it is threatened by habitat loss. This is of concern, though does not yet merit a higher protection level.

The greater long-tailed shrew tenrec is an afrotherian species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests or moist montane forests. Habitat loss threatens its survival.

The shrew-toothed shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The taiva shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Talazac's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. On the basis of molecular data indicating that it and Dobson's shrew tenrec form a sister group to the rest of Microgale, these two species were transferred from Microgale to Nesogale in 2016.

Oryzorictinae is a subfamily of tenrecs endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is the largest of three tenrec subfamilies. Oryzorictinae is thought to have split from the lineage of its closest relative, Geogale, about 30 million years (Ma) ago. The deepest phylogenetic split within the subfamily, that between Oryzorictes and a clade composed of Microgale plus Nesogale, is thought to have occurred about 28 Ma ago. In turn, Microgale and Nesogale are thought to have diverged about 19 Ma ago.

Nesogale is a genus of tenrecs, which are a family of afrotherian mammals endemic to Madagascar. On the basis of molecular data indicating its two species form a sister group to the rest of Microgale, they were transferred from Microgale to Nesogale in 2016, thus resurrecting a genus first erected by Oldfield Thomas in 1918. These genera, along with Oryzorictes, form the tenrec subfamily Oryzorictinae. Nesogale contains the following species:

References

↑ Apanaskevich, D. A.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. M. (2013). "A New Ixodes Species (Acari: Ixodidae), Parasite of Shrew Tenrecs (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae) in Madagascar". Journal of Parasitology . 99 (6): 970–972. doi:10.1645/13-306.1. PMC 4833386 . PMID 23901784.
↑ Soarimalala, V., and S. M. Goodman. 2011. Les Petits Mammifères de Madagascar. Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar, 176 p.
↑ Goodman, S. M., D. Rakotondravony, M. J. Raherilalao, D. Rakotomalala, A. P. Raselimanana V. Soarimalala, J.-M. Duplantier, J.-B. Duchemin, and J. Rafanomezantsoa. 2000. Inventaire Biologique de La Forêt de Tsinjoarivo, Ambatolampy. Akon'ny Ala 27: 18–27

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[1] Apanaskevich, D. A.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. M. (2013). "A New Ixodes Species (Acari: Ixodidae), Parasite of Shrew Tenrecs (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae) in Madagascar". Journal of Parasitology . 99 (6): 970–972. doi:10.1645/13-306.1. PMC 4833386 . PMID 23901784.

[2] Soarimalala, V., and S. M. Goodman. 2011. Les Petits Mammifères de Madagascar. Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar, 176 p.

[3] Goodman, S. M., D. Rakotondravony, M. J. Raherilalao, D. Rakotomalala, A. P. Raselimanana V. Soarimalala, J.-M. Duplantier, J.-B. Duchemin, and J. Rafanomezantsoa. 2000. Inventaire Biologique de La Forêt de Tsinjoarivo, Ambatolampy. Akon'ny Ala 27: 18–27

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