Eleutherengona

Infraorder Guides

Cheyletoidea
Eriophyoidea(gall mites)
Raphignathoidea
Tarsonemoidea
Tetranychoidea(Spider Mites, Flat Mites, and Allies)

Eleutherengona is an infraorder of mites within the suborder Prostigmata (Trombidiformes). This group includes permanent of mammals, with the Myobiidae being a well-documented representative. Members are highly specialized for life in mammalian fur and have been recorded from bats, rodents, opossums, and shrews.

Petrobia harti by (c) Julien Tchilinguirian, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Julien Tchilinguirian. Used under a CC-BY license.

Tetranychus by (c) Elspeth Swan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Elspeth Swan. Used under a CC-BY license.

Petrobia by (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eleutherengona: /ɛˌluːθəˈrɛŋɡə nə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Fur of mammals; recorded from in four mammal orders: Chiroptera (bats), Didelphimorphia (opossums), Rodentia (rodents), and Soricomorpha (shrews). Specific microhabitat includes the pelage of host animals.

Distribution

Recorded in Mexico from the states of Colima, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, Ciudad de México, Querétaro, Chiapas, and Tlaxcala. Global distribution extends beyond Mexico but is not comprehensively documented in available sources.

Host Associations

Chiroptera (bats) - Mormoopidae, Vespertilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Molossidae, Natalidae
Didelphimorphia (opossums) - Including Lestoros inca
Rodentia (rodents) - Cricetidae, including Neotominae
Soricomorpha (shrews) - Soricidae

Behavior

Permanent ectoparasitism; specialized to clasp mammalian fur. Members do not leave their and complete their entire within the pelage.

Similar Taxa

ParasitengonaAnother major infraorder within Prostigmata; Parasitengona includes many predatory and parasitic mites with complex involving multiple , whereas Eleutherengona are permanent, fur-dwelling of mammals with direct development.

More Details

Taxonomic note

Eleutherengona has been ranked variously as infraorder or supercohort in different classifications. The group is sometimes referred to as 'Eleutherengonides' in older literature. The Myobiidae is the most thoroughly studied family within this infraorder, particularly in the context of Mexican fauna.