A new species of parasitic mite, Cnemidocoptes jamaicensis, a causative agent of scaly leg in Turdus aurantiacus

Abstract

The specimens of this new species of mite were collected by Mr Gordon Thompson, formerly curator of the Science Museum of the Institute of Jamaica, from the legs of a specimen of the golden thrush, Turdus aurantiacus Gmelin, taken at Morant Bay Road, 14½ miles east of Kingston, 14 January 1947. The bird was a male, and in a letter dated 11 March 1947 he says the mites were ‘extracted from a “growth” after macerating it for a while in caustic potash. This is the only “growth” of its kind I have found among approximately two hundred birds examined in Jamaica. The bird seemed quite healthy.’ I have to thank Mr Thompson for his kindness in handing me this, together with other acarine material, for study and determination.