''Felicola isidoroi'', the Iberian lynx louse, was a species of trichodectid chewing louse. It was known only from a single specimen, a male,
and likely died out when the last survivors of its host species, the
Iberian lynx
The Iberian lynx (''Lynx pardinus'') is a wild cat species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In the 20th century, the Iberian lynx population had declined because of overhun ...
, were taken into captivity and de-loused.
The specimen was slightly larger than males of most of the remaining species within the subgenus Lorisicola.
The female was never seen. The
type specimen
In biology, a type is a particular wiktionary:en:specimen, specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to a ...
is in the collection of the
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
The National Museum of Natural Sciences ( es, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales) is the national museum of natural history of Spain. It is situated in the center of Madrid, by the Paseo de la Castellana. It is managed by the Spanish National Re ...
in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
.
See also
* ''
Colpocephalum californici
''Colpocephalum californici'', the California condor louse, was a species of chewing louse which parasitized the critically endangered California condor. It became extinct when the remaining California condors were deloused and treated with pesti ...
''
*
Conservation biology of parasites
A large proportion of living species on Earth live a parasitic way of life. Parasites have traditionally been seen as targets of eradication efforts, and they have often been overlooked in conservation efforts. In the case of parasites living in t ...
*
Conservation-induced extinction
Efforts to save endangered species may, paradoxically, lead to conservation-induced extinction of other species. This mostly threatens the parasite and pathogen species that are highly host-specific to critically endangered hosts. When the last in ...
References
{{taxonbar, from=Q61863944
Insects described in 2001
Lice
Ectoparasites
Parasitic arthropods of mammals
Extinct invertebrates since 1500
Species made extinct by human activities