Harrisoniella hopkinsi

Harrisoniella hopkinsi is a species of phtilopterid louse that lives on and eats the feathers of albatrosses. The species was first described by W. Eichler in 1952.[1]

Harrisoniella hopkinsi
Harrisoniella hopkinsi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phthiraptera
Family: Philopteridae
Genus: Harrisoniella
Species:
H. hopkinsi
Binomial name
Harrisoniella hopkinsi
Eichler, 1952

This species is dark brown with an elongated head, and extremely large – H. hopkinsi is one of the largest feather lice, with males reaching up to 9 millimetres (0.35 in) long.[2] They live mostly on the wing feathers, but are quite able to move if disturbed or if their host bird should die.[3] There are usually fewer than half a dozen adult specimens found on a single host bird; low compared with other species of feather lice, which may number in the hundreds.[3] Harrisoniella hopkinsi has been found on the feathers of the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) and the southern royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora).[3]

References
  1. "Harrisoniella hopkinsi Eichler, W." Phthiraptera.info. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. Morris, Rod (2010). "Harrisoniella". Rod Morris Nature Photography. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. Palma, Ricardo L.; Pilgrim, Ron L. C. (1984). "A revision of the genus Harrisoniella (Mallophaga: Philopteridae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 11 (2): 145–166. doi:10.1080/03014223.1984.10423754.


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