Taxonomy of New World Columbicola (Phthiraptera : Philopteridae) from the Columbiformes (Aves), with descriptions of five new species

Twelve previously described species of Columbicola are recognized and redes cribed. The species Columbicola extinctus Malcomson, previously recognized only from the extinct passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (L.), is "br ought back" from extinction by showing it to be conspecific with lice from the extant Land-tailed pigeon, Columba fasciata Say. Five new species are d escribed: drown [type host Metriopelia melanoptera (Molina)], altamimiae [t ype host Metriopelia aymara (Prevost)], adamsi (type host Columba speciosa Gmelin), waggermani (type host Columbicola squamosa Bonnaterre), and walthe ri [type host Geotrygon linearis (Prevost)]. Columbicola triangularis Eichl er and Columbicola gymnopeliae Eichler are removed from synonymy and recogn ized as valid species. Columbicola pseudolipeurusque Eichler is considered a junior synonym of Columbicola passerinae (Wilson) rather than of Columbic ola macrourae (Wilson). We remark on informal groupings of the species and provide a key for the identification of the 17 species recognized in this a rticle.