Amblyomma ticks consumed by a giant cowbird, Molothrus oryzivorus

Abstract

The removal of ectoparasites is a common behavior found across animal taxa and is a determinant to avoid the negative effects of parasites' presence. Eventually, the elimination of ectoparasites is associated with mutualistic interactions. Cleaner birds remove ectoparasites, providing benefits to its mutualistic host by reducing parasite burden while they obtain a protein food source. Here we report some evidence that giant cowbirds (Molothrus oryzivorus) may have an important role as a cleaner bird. We found 74 adult ticks inside the ventriculus of one male giant cowbird. The ticks belonged to three different species: Amblyomma dubitatum, A. sculptum and A. triste. We found that the sex-ratio of the consumed adult ticks was not different from 1:1. Although additional data are necessary, the large number of ticks found suggests that the giant cowbird may have developed a mutualistic association with large, social mammals such as capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), since this animal is an important host species for the three tick species found in the present study.

Keywords: Cleaning symbiosis; Icteridae; Ixodidae; Pantanal; Wetland.