Light micrograph of Ceratophylus Galinae, a flea which lives on dry nesting birds. The head is helmet-shaped & the body is laterally flattened, adapti

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Light micrograph of Ceratophylus Galinae, a flea which lives on dry nesting birds. The head is helmet-shaped & the body is laterally flattened, adaptions which allow the maximum freedom of movement through the feathers of the host. For protection during its travels, the antennae can be withdrawn into grooves in the head. The comb-like structure behind the head, called the pronotal ctenidium, is probably used to prevent the flea from slipping backwards through the feathers. The mandibles are regressed and modified for the blood sucking habits of the creature. Most fleas remain on the host only while feeding. Magnification: x200 at 35mm size.

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Size: 5116px × 3496px
Photo credit: © POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bird, blood, cerato., ceratophylus, flea, galin, galinae, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, light, micrograph, nature, sucker, wildlife, zoology