Parasites of the Southern silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Aves, Podicipedidae) in Chile / Parasitas do mergulhão-de-orelha-amarela Podiceps occipitalis (Aves, Podicipedidae) no Chile

Abstract A total of 97 southern silvery grebes (Podiceps occipitalis), which died as the result of an oil spill on the coast of central Chile, were examined for ecto- and endoparasites. Two lice species including Aquanirmus rollandii (Philopteridae) and Pseudomenopon dolium (Menoponidae) were found from 6.2% (6/97) of birds. In 91.7% (89/97) of cases, grebes were infected with some kind of helminths. Three species of gastrointestinal helminths were detected: Eucoleus contortus (Nematoda), Profilicollis bullocki (Acanthocephala), and Confluaria sp. (Cestoda). In addition, Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Nematoda) was removed from the tibiotarsal-tarsometatarsal articulation in 13.4% (13/97) of the specimens examined. To our knowledge, these are the first records of A. rollandii, E. contortus, and Confluaria sp. as parasites of P. occipitalis. In addition, these findings expand the distributional range of A. rollandii, E. contortus, P. fulicaeatrae, and Confluaria sp. to Chile.

Resumo Um total de 97 mergulhões-de-orelha-amarela (Podiceps occipitalis), que morreram devido a um derramamento de óleo na costa do Chile central, foram examinados em busca de parasitos internos e externos. Parasitos externos foram encontrados em 6,2% (6/97) das aves, com a identificação de duas espécies de piolhos: Aquanirmus rollandii (Philopteridae) e Pseudomenopon dolium (Menoponidae). Em 91,7% (89/97) dos casos, os mergulhões apresentaram algum tipo de parasito interno. Foram detectadas três espécies de parasitos gastrointestinais: Eucoleus contortus (Nematoda), Profilicollis bullocki (Acanthocephala) e Confluaria sp. (Cestoda). Além disso, Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Nematoda) foi isolado das articulação tibiotársica e tarsometatarsal em 13,4% (13/97) das aves examinados. Estes resultados correspondem ao primeiro relato de A. rollandii, E. contortus e Confluaria sp. associados com P. occipitalis, e expandem a distribuição destes parasitos e P. fulicaeatrae para o Chile.

A Biodiversity Hub: Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Diversity refers variety in nature i.e. the variety of life on Earth and its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. Sandi Bird sanctuary was developed and conserved in the year 1990 as natural biodiversity hub for aquatic vegetation as well as local residents and migratory birds. This Sanctuary has an area of 309 hectares. A study of faunal diversity in Sandi Bird Sanctuary was done during January 2013 to March 2014. Sandi Bird Sanctuary is well known as popular tourist destination because of the diverse assemblage of avifauna especially migratory water birds that congregate at the Sandi Bird Sanctuary in winter. The result includes 3 species of annelids belonging to 3 orders, 10 orders of insects with 61 species, 4 species of mollusks belonging to 3 orders, 11 species of fishes belonging to 5 families, 3 species of amphibians and 15 species of reptiles belonging to 13 families, 157 species of birds, and 12 species of mammals belonging to 09 families from Sandi Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is an envoy area of the Indo-gangetic eco-system. Wetland vegetation is also found in the sanctuary.