Knemidokoptes | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Sarcoptiformes |
Family: | Epidermoptidae |
Subfamily: | Knemidokoptinae |
Genus: | Knemidokoptes Fürstenberg, 1870 |
Species | |
Synonyms | |
|
Knemidokoptes is a genus of parasitic mites in the family Epidermoptidae that infect the skin or feather follicles of birds, especially gallinaceous birds (chickens, pheasants, and relatives) as well as parakeets and canaries.[1][2] Infection commonly causes scaly lesions to form at the face or feet, which is known as knemidocoptiasis.
It was formerly placed in the family Knemidokoptidae, which is now treated as a subfamily with 15 species grouped in six genera.[3]