A multivariate analysis of morphometric data suggests that the nominally pleioxenous ectoparasite, Androlaelaps rotundus, includes at least three distinct host-associated populations in Paraguay. Where multiple akodontine hosts occur sympatrically, each host species is accompanied by a morphologically distinct mite population. These host-mite associations were consistent across all localities, implying that A. rotundus is a complex of unrecognized species.
ectoparasites; laelapidae; Androlaelaps; Eubrachylaelaps; akodontini; Akodon; Bolomys; Paraguay
