Scrutable

New research published in Nature Communications (open access) has revealed that feathered dinosaurs had lice. The Guardian has a good report on the find.

The lice were found on feathers trapped in Burmese amber, thought to date from around 99mya (so technically it's Cretaceous). They are nymphs and the feathers show evidence of having been eaten by lice, with the damage having similarities to that of modern lice. The paper concludes,

the new findings provide the earliest known evidence about the origin of ectoparasitic insects feeding on feathers, which strongly support that the integument-feeding behaviors of insects appeared during or before the mid-Cretaceous along with the radiations of feathered dinosaurs including birds.

This is pretty amazing. The things we humans can discover.

Well this entirely overturns the prevailing theory that early birds got worms.

Srsly tho, that's quite amazing. Thanks for the link.

I am jealous of this joke.

lpm wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:53 pm I am jealous of this joke.

I'm so smug I'm almost hugging myself with glee.

Just remember, Cagney never actually said "You Jurassic louse!"

Martin Y wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:02 pm

lpm wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:53 pm I am jealous of this joke.

I'm so smug I'm almost hugging myself with glee.

It's one of the ones you go back to look at, just to confirm it's real.

Martin Y wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:02 pm

lpm wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:53 pm I am jealous of this joke.

I'm so smug I'm almost hugging myself with glee.

I can't say I blame you.

Me neither

This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

It's the detail of the preservation that really staggers me. Round of applause for amber.

Martin Y wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:34 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

It's the detail of the preservation that really staggers me. Round of applause for amber.

Yes, the photos of the insects themselves are amazing, plus they can detect feather damage on preserved feathers! Wow!

Martin Y wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:34 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

It's the detail of the preservation that really staggers me. Round of applause for amber.

Without mosquitos entombed in amber we wouldn't have live Utahraptors today.

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

Do these lice or similar have parasites of their own? Are there chains of many species?

lpm wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:53 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

Do these lice or similar have parasites of their own? Are there chains of many species?

Ah, an advocate of the Mighty Whales conspiracy...

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

And then suddenly all the birds on Anglesey die... coincidence? I think not.

shpalman wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:40 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:32 pm This is really cool. Pretty much all bird species have feather lice, many of which are host-specific, and feather lice are used as a model group for studying host-parasite coevolution. Amazing to think that these lineages might go back that far.

And then suddenly all the birds on Anglesey die... coincidence? I think not.

Statues all over the world rejoice.

lpm wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:53 pm Do these lice or similar have parasites of their own? Are there chains of many species?

Siphonaptera (poem)

Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so, ad infinitum.
And the great fleas, themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on;
While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on.