spinifera (Leach)

Feronia spinifera Leach, 1817: 11 (Leach 1818: 557) .

Olfersia spinifera: Johnson 1924: 91 [records]; Curran 1932: 366 [records]; Bequaert 1933: 132 [records]; Bequaert 1957: 431 [records]; Linsley & Usinger 1966: 173 [checklist]; Guimar„es 1968: 8 [catalogue].

Distribution. Native. Cosmopolitan over tropical seas; Galápagos: Floreana, Genovesa, Santa Cruz, Seymour.

Remarks. This species is an obligate parasite of frigate birds ( Fregata Lacépède) (Bequaert 1957) that is suspected to be a vector of Haemoproteus parasites in Galápagos Pelecaniform birds (Levin et al. 2011). In the Galápagos, it has been recorded from Fregata minor ridgwayi Mathews and F. m. magnificens Mathews (Bequaert 1957). This species is known to be infected by the epidermoptid mite, Myialges Trouessart, which are bird skin parasites (Bequaert 1933).