Morphometric variation of <i>Androlaelaps fahrenholzi</i> (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) associated with three Sigmodontinae (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from the north of Chile

Abstract

<i>Androlaelaps fahrenholzi</i> is a mite with a large distribution and associated with a wide range of hosts. To assess morphometric variation of <i>A. fahrenholzi</i> associated with different host species (<i>Phyllotis xanthopygus</i> and <i>Akodon albiventer</i>, both from Putre, Chile) and localities (Las Chinchillas National Reserve, Fray Jorge National Park, and Llanos de Challe National Park, all in Chile and all from the host <i>Phyllotis darwini</i>), 41 morphological characters of each specimen were measured, and principal component analysis and discriminant analysis were used. Both analyses showed two groups separated for species of rodents. Mites associated with <i>P. xanthopygus</i> are smaller than those of <i>A. albiventer</i>. The analysis by location indicates two groups: group 1 comprises all mites collected from Fray Jorge National Park and Las Chinchillas National Reserve, and group 2 comprises only mites from Llanos de Challe National Park. These results indicate that <i>A. fahrenholzi</i> population can vary between hosts and geographical areas. Molecular analysis would be necessary to validate these results and determine whether they are subspecies or different species.