Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera) Species Infesting the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) in Türkiye: First Record of Craspedorrhynchus naevius (Giebel, 1861) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae)

Abstract

Ornitho-parasitological studies in T & uuml;rkiye began in the early 2000s, focusing on chewing lice, and have continued to increase to the present day - new studies, records, and host-parasite associations - are published each year. Despite this progress, the chewing lice fauna of many wild bird species in T & uuml;rkiye remains poorly known, especially among raptor species (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes). Faunistic records of birds of prey are still limited, and each novel record or novel host-parasite association provides valuable data for understanding host specificity and ectoparasite distribution. The material of this study consists of chewing lice specimens collected from the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) and were mounted on slides using standard clearing and mounting techniques and examined under a light microscope for identification. As a result, the specimens were identified as Colpocephalum impressum Rudow, 1866, Craspedorrhynchus naevius (Giebel, 1861), Degeeriella fulva (Giebel, 1874), and Falcolipeurus suturalis (Rudow, 1869). Among these species, Craspedonhynchus naevius represents a new record for the chewing lice fauna of T & uuml;rkiye. This study contributes to the understanding the ectoparasite biodiversity of birds of prey in T & uuml;rkiye and emphasises the importance of continued parasitological studies of wild avian species.