The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study
Seal lice (Anoplura) parasitize amphibious hosts, such as pinnipeds, and are uniquely adapted to an oceanic environment. As obligate, permanent ectoparasites feed on the blood of their hosts and are completely dependent on them. While studies have begun to explore general diving adaptations, researc...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Paula Olivera Claudio R. Lazzari María Soledad Leonardi |
| author_facet | Paula Olivera Claudio R. Lazzari María Soledad Leonardi |
| author_sort | Paula Olivera |
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| description | Seal lice (Anoplura) parasitize amphibious hosts, such as pinnipeds, and are uniquely adapted to an oceanic environment. As obligate, permanent ectoparasites feed on the blood of their hosts and are completely dependent on them. While studies have begun to explore general diving adaptations, research into seal lice’s sensory biology remains limited. In contrast to the vast majority of insects, including human lice, seal lice are devoid of eyes and depend on antennal sensory reception. This study aims to describe the morphology and putative function of antennal sensilla in five seal lice species: <i>Antarctophthirus microchir</i>, <i>A. carlinii</i>, <i>A. lobodontis</i>, <i>A. ogmorhini</i>, and <i>Lepidophthirus macrorhini</i>, which parasitize the South American sea lion, Weddell seal, crabeater seal, leopard seal, and southern elephant seal, respectively. The antennal structures of each species were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and eight morphotypes were identified: spine, cuticular lobe, sensilla squamiformia, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica I and II, tuft organs, and pore organs. The morphology of sensilla and their distribution on the antennal flagellum exhibited variability among genera and species. For instance, the southern elephant louse (<i>Lepidophthirus macrorhini</i>) is characterized by the presence of sensilla squamiformia, while <i>Antarctophthirus</i> spp. are distinguished by sensilla chaetica. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b55fc89a63da4deda2d4d795dcf7a99a |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-b55fc89a63da4deda2d4d795dcf7a99a2025-06-25T13:58:14ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-05-0116657410.3390/insects16060574The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative StudyPaula Olivera0Claudio R. Lazzari1María Soledad Leonardi2Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos, IBIOMAR-CONICET, Puerto Madryn U9120ACD, Chubut, ArgentinaInstitut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte (IRBI), UMR7261 CNRS-University of Tours, 37200 Tours, FranceInstituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos, IBIOMAR-CONICET, Puerto Madryn U9120ACD, Chubut, ArgentinaSeal lice (Anoplura) parasitize amphibious hosts, such as pinnipeds, and are uniquely adapted to an oceanic environment. As obligate, permanent ectoparasites feed on the blood of their hosts and are completely dependent on them. While studies have begun to explore general diving adaptations, research into seal lice’s sensory biology remains limited. In contrast to the vast majority of insects, including human lice, seal lice are devoid of eyes and depend on antennal sensory reception. This study aims to describe the morphology and putative function of antennal sensilla in five seal lice species: <i>Antarctophthirus microchir</i>, <i>A. carlinii</i>, <i>A. lobodontis</i>, <i>A. ogmorhini</i>, and <i>Lepidophthirus macrorhini</i>, which parasitize the South American sea lion, Weddell seal, crabeater seal, leopard seal, and southern elephant seal, respectively. The antennal structures of each species were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and eight morphotypes were identified: spine, cuticular lobe, sensilla squamiformia, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica I and II, tuft organs, and pore organs. The morphology of sensilla and their distribution on the antennal flagellum exhibited variability among genera and species. For instance, the southern elephant louse (<i>Lepidophthirus macrorhini</i>) is characterized by the presence of sensilla squamiformia, while <i>Antarctophthirus</i> spp. are distinguished by sensilla chaetica.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/574antennaeEchinophthiriidaeseal licesensilla |
| spellingShingle | Paula Olivera Claudio R. Lazzari María Soledad Leonardi The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study Insects antennae Echinophthiriidae seal lice sensilla |
| title | The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study |
| title_full | The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study |
| title_fullStr | The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study |
| title_short | The Sensory Equipment of Diving Lice, a Host Ecology-Based Comparative Study |
| title_sort | sensory equipment of diving lice a host ecology based comparative study |
| topic | antennae Echinophthiriidae seal lice sensilla |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/574 |
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