Syringophilus Heller, 1880

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 305

Genus Syringophilus Heller, 1880

Syringophilus Heller, 1880: 186 .

Type species: Syringophilus bipectinatus Heller, 1880 by monotypy.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Large syringophilids (total body length 920–1240). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex without protuberances. Lateral hypostomal teeth absent. Peritremes U-shaped, with clearly visible chambers in each branch. Movable cheliceral digits dentate, each with 2 minute teeth. Stylophore constricted posteriorly. Idiosoma . Dorsal propodonotal setae delicately ornamented. Six pairs of propodonotal setae present, arranged 3–1–2. Propodonotal shield entire, bearing bases of all propodonotal setae. Hysteronotal shield variable, fused or not to pygidial shield. Hysteronotal setae medium-sized. Bases of setae d1 situated closer to d2 than to e2. Terminal setae f1 and h1 short, f2 and h2 long. Two pairs of pseudanal, 2 pairs of genital and 3 pairs of aggenital setae present. Legs. Legs I–IV subequal in thickness and with full complement of setae. Apodemes I divergent and fused to apodemes II in posterior part of apodemes II, both dissimilar in shape and size. Antaxial and paraxial members of claw pair subequal in size and shape, without basal angle.

MALE. Features as in females except: total body length 700–800; movable cheliceral digit edentate; peritremes M-shaped; dorsal idiosomal setae smooth; hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield; hysteronotal setae d2 long, d1 and e2 short; terminal setae f2 short, h2 long; 2 pairs of aggenital setae present.

Host range. Members of this genus are associated with galliform birds of the family Phasianidae .

Habitat. Mites inhabiting quills of flight feathers: primaries, secondaries, coverts, alulars and tertials.

Species included. This genus includes 2 species: S. bipectinatus , which has the worldwide distribution, and S. numidae - recorded from the Ethiopian region.