Darwin’s Transatlantic Lice

Darwin’sTransatlanticLice

Vincent S. Smith

Darwin on Lice

Lice - specialist parasites

Adaptation

Darwin’s question

Louse Evolution

Co-evolution

Co-speciation

Co-speciation

Primate Lice

Human Lice

Primate Lice

Primates

?

?

Co-evolutionTime

8.8 My

5.4 My

1.2 My

Age (millionyears ago)

0

1.0

2.0

AfricaEurope Asia Americas

Recent Human Evolution

Switching hosts

“Archaic” and modern humans made contact

The Louse Family Tree

MammalsBirds

242 species(1844)

Then and now…

The Louse Family Tree

MammalsBirds

4,947 species(2008)

Then and now…

The Louse Family Tree

MammalsBirds

4,947 species(2008)

Then and now…

Galapagos Mockingbirds

Mockingbird Parasites

Comparing family treesIslands Mites Lice Mockingbirds

Questions?