Abstract
BackgroundWe present information on Nycteribiidae flies parasitizing the bat families Pteropodidae, Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae from the Malagasy Region, contributing insight into their diversity and host preference.ResultsOur phylogenetic analysis identified nine clusters of nycteribiid bat flies on Madagascar and the neighbouring Comoros Archipelago. Bat flies sampled from frugivorous bats of the family Pteropodidae are monoxenous: Eucampsipoda madagascariensis, E. theodori and Cyclopodia dubia appear wholly restricted to Rousettus madagascariensis, R. obliviosus and Eidolon dupreanum, respectively. Two different host preference patterns occurred in nycteribiids infecting insectivorous bats. Flies parasitizing bats of the genera Miniopterus (Miniopteridae) and Myotis (Vespertilionidae), namely Penicillidia leptothrinax, Penicillidia sp. and Nycteribia stylidiopsis, are polyxenous and showed little host preference, while those parasitizing the genera Pipistrellus and Scotophilus (both Vespertilionidae) and referable to Basilia spp., are monoxenous. Lastly, the inferred Bayesian phylogeny revealed that the genus Basilia, as currently configured, is paraphyletic.ConclusionThis study provides new information on the differentiation of nycteribiid taxa, including undescribed species. Host preference is either strict as exemplified by flies parasitizing fruit bats, or more relaxed as found on some insectivorous bat species, possibly because of roost site sharing. Detailed taxonomic work is needed to address three undescribed nycteribiid taxa found on Pipistrellus and Scotophilus, tentatively allocated to the genus Basilia, but possibly warranting different generic allocation.
Highlights
We present information on Nycteribiidae flies parasitizing the bat families Pteropodidae, Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae from the Malagasy Region, contributing insight into their diversity and host preference
This study suggested little host preference associated with Nycteribia stylidiopsis, Penicillidia sp. and P. leptothrinax occurring on insectivorous bats of the genus Miniopterus (Miniopteridae, Yangochiroptera)
In addition to these taxa and based on specimens collected on Madagascar, Theodor [5] previously reported the presence of Cyclopodia dubia on Eidolon dupreanum (Pteropodidae), Basilia (Paracyclopodia) madagascarensis on Scotophilus borbonicus (Vespertilionidae, Yangochiroptera) and Penicillidia decipiens
Summary
We present information on Nycteribiidae flies parasitizing the bat families Pteropodidae, Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae from the Malagasy Region, contributing insight into their diversity and host preference. 49 distinct bat species have been reported in this region, of which about 80% are endemic [1,2,3,4] These investigations, which included new field collections of bats and their ectoparasites, have substantially clarified the taxonomy of the regional bat fauna and improved previously available information [5] on the diversity and ecology of bat. P. leptothrinax occurring on insectivorous bats of the genus Miniopterus (Miniopteridae, Yangochiroptera) In addition to these taxa and based on specimens collected on Madagascar, Theodor [5] previously reported the presence of Cyclopodia dubia on Eidolon dupreanum (Pteropodidae), Basilia (Paracyclopodia) madagascarensis on Scotophilus borbonicus In addition to these taxa and based on specimens collected on Madagascar, Theodor [5] previously reported the presence of Cyclopodia dubia on Eidolon dupreanum (Pteropodidae), Basilia (Paracyclopodia) madagascarensis on Scotophilus borbonicus (probably syn. of S. robustus, see below) (Vespertilionidae, Yangochiroptera) and Penicillidia decipiens (host not identified)
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