matteofrz 的最愛

Pentastomid Gecko Parasite
Identified as Waddycephalus on Bowerbird by Ken Walker: "The identification was made by a colleague at Melbourne University. It's a Crustacean nymph parasite of all things. Pentastomiasis (also known as Porocephalosis) is a disease caused by infection with pentastomids. Pentastomids or Rallietellids are endoparasites of the respiratory system of vertebrates, maturing primarily in carnivorous reptiles (eg. snakes). Adult and larval pentastomids can cause severe pathology resulting in the death of their intermediate and definitive hosts. These parasites have an indirect life cycle involving one of more intermediate host. A closely related parasite genus Raillietiella was found to use frogs as an intermediate host in frog eating snakes. Nymphs of Waddycephalus have been recorded in numerous taxa (e.g. dasyurids, elapids, geckos, skinks, frogs, and owls) but it is unclear whether these animals are viable intermediate hosts or accidental hosts in which the parasite will not develop further or will transfer to other hosts. Considering the diet of known definitive hosts of Waddycephalus, frogs and/or lizards are the most plausible intermediate host for these parasites. For more information, see: https://www.wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au/Portals/0/Documents/FactSheets/Reptiles/Pentastomiasis%20in%20Australian%20snakes%20Jul%202014%20(1.1).pdf"

This Textrix specimen was photographed near lake Maulazzo on Nebrodi Mountains, Sicily.
The only two species that are present on the island are T.caudata and T.rubrofoliata, whose after original description 30 years ago was never re-recorded.
The holotype for the latter species was collected just a few kilometers from the point the picture was taken, and, to this day, female of this species is unknown.
That and the reddish colouration of the specimen were enough to instillate my curiosity.
Anyway, that said, i'm not a spider specialist nor I do have the ability to correctly identify this spider.
If any of you is able to identify if this is T.caudata or T.rubrofoliata that would be really appreciate and interesting

Original desription of T.rubrofoliata in: Pesarini C., 1990 - Textrix rubrofoliata, nuova specie di Agelenide di Sicilia (Araneae, Agelenidae). Atti della Società italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo civico di Storia naturale di Milano 131(12): 221-224