First record of Synhimantus (Dispharynx) nasuta (Nematoda : Acuarioidea) and Neopteronyssus sp. (Acari: Pteronyssidae) from Okinawa woodpecker, Sapheopipo noguchii

Abstract

A dead Okinawa woodpecker, Sapheopipo noguchii, was collected on August 3, 2007 in the Yanbaru region, northern part of Okinawa-jima Island, Japan. By postmortem examination, two individuals of nematode and numerous specimens of feather mite were obtained from the gizzard and feather, respectively. They were identified as Synhimantus (Dispharynx) nasuta (Nematoda: Spirurida: Acuariidae) and Neopteronyssus sp. (Acari: Astigmata: Pteronyssidae), by their morphological characters. This is the new host record of S. (D.) nasuta and Neopteronyssus sp. from S. noguchii, and the first geographical record of the latter species from Japan.