A description of four new species of fleas (Insecta, Siphonaptera) from Angola, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru

Hastriter, Michael W.

doi:10.3897/zookeys.8.82

“…The PARHOST database is a highly curated primary resource, which has been assembled by Sergei Medvedev, under the auspices of the Zoological Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. Pertinent information on recently described species that are not recorded in the database was manually extracted from the pertinent literature (Hastriter and Dick, 2009;Hastriter, 2009;. Host association matrices were coded in continuous and categorical character states, in preparation of the analytical approaches taken (see below): (A) In the continuous matrix, for each extant flea genus represented in this study the proportion of each host category as defined by Whiting et al (2008) was calculated from all host records as a numerical value from 0 to 1.…”

Section: Reconstruction Of Ancestral Host Association and Biogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and Evolved with Theria

Zhu

¹

,

Hastriter

²

,

Whiting

³

et al. 2015

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fleas (order Siphonaptera) are highly-specialized, diverse blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals and birds with an enigmatic evolutionary history and obscure origin. We here present a molecular phylogenetic study based on a comprehensive taxon sampling of 259 flea taxa, representing 16 of the 18 extant families of this order. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree with strong nodal support was recovered, consisting of seven sequentially derived lineages with Macropsyllidae as the earliest divergence, followed by Stephanocircidae. Divergence times of flea lineages were estimated based on fossil records and host specific associations to bats (Chiroptera), suggesting that the common ancestor of extant Siphonaptera diversified during the Cretaceous. However, most of the intraordinal divergence into extant lineages took place after the K-Pg boundary. Ancestral states of host association and biogeographical distribution were reconstructed, suggesting with high likelihood that fleas originated in the southern continents (Gondwana) and migrated from South America to their extant distributions in a relatively short time frame. Theria (placental mammals and marsupials) represent the most likely ancestral host group of extant Siphonaptera, with marsupials occupying a more important role than previously assumed. Major extant flea families evolved in connection to post K-Pg diversification of Placentalia. The association of fleas with monotremes and birds is likely due to later secondary host association. These results suggest caution in casually interpreting recently discovered Mesozoic fossil "dinosaur fleas" of Northeast Asia as part of what we currently consider Siphonaptera.

show abstract

“…The PARHOST database is a highly curated primary resource, which has been assembled by Sergei Medvedev, under the auspices of the Zoological Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. Pertinent information on recently described species that are not recorded in the database was manually extracted from the pertinent literature (Hastriter and Dick, 2009;Hastriter, 2009;.…”

Section: Reconstruction Of Ancestral Host Association and Biogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and evolved with Theria

Zhu

¹

,

Hastriter

²

,

Whiting

³

et al. 2015

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fleas (order Siphonaptera) are highly-specialized, diverse blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals and birds with an enigmatic evolutionary history and obscure origin. We here present a molecular phylogenetic study based on a comprehensive taxon sampling of 259 flea taxa, representing 16 of the 18 extant families of this order. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree with strong nodal support was recovered, consisting of seven sequentially derived lineages with Macropsyllidae as the earliest divergence, followed by Stephanocircidae. Divergence times of flea lineages were estimated based on fossil records and host specific associations to bats (Chiroptera), suggesting that the common ancestor of extant Siphonaptera diversified during the Cretaceous. However, most of the intraordinal divergence into extant lineages took place after the K-Pg boundary. Ancestral states of host association and biogeographical distribution were reconstructed, suggesting with high likelihood that fleas originated in the southern continents (Gondwana) and migrated from South America to their extant distributions in a relatively short time frame. Theria (placental mammals and marsupials) represent the most likely ancestral host group of extant Siphonaptera, with marsupials occupying a more important role than previously assumed. Major extant flea families evolved in connection to post K-Pg diversification of Placentalia. The association of fleas with monotremes and birds is likely due to later secondary host association. These results suggest caution in casually interpreting recently discovered Mesozoic fossil "dinosaur fleas" of Northeast Asia as part of what we currently consider Siphonaptera.

show abstract

“…Two genal ctenidia off -set at bases; anterior tooth about 2/3 length of posterior. Two lucodiscs at base of second genal tooth (see Hastriter 2009). Postantennal area with 4 rows of stout setae (4, 3, 6, and 7).…”

Section: Key To Species Of Paractenopsyllusmentioning

confidence: 99%

A description of the flea species Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis n. sp. and the female sex of Paractenopsyllus raxworthyi Duchemin & Ratovonjato, 2004 (Siphonaptera, Leptopsyllidae) from Madagascar with a key to the species of Paractenopsyllus

Hastriter¹,

Dick²

2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An alcohol collection of 990 fl eas from Madagascar (2003Madagascar ( -2005 was deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, and recently made available for study. Among the material were two new and undescribed taxa. Th e male and female sex of Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis sp. n. is described and host associations are discussed. In addition, a description of the heretofore unknown female of Paractenopsyllus raxworthyi Duchemin & Ratovonjato, 2004 is provided. Th e tenrec Microgale drouhardi G. Grandidier, 1934 is also reported as a new host record for P. raxworthyi. Host associations for all known records of species of Paractenopsyllus are presented as a table and a key to the known species of Paractenopsyllus is included.

show abstract

A description of four new species of fleas (Insecta, Siphonaptera) from Angola, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru

Cited by 1,156 publications

References 5 publications

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and Evolved with Theria

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and Evolved with Theria

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and evolved with Theria

A description of the flea species Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis n. sp. and the female sex of Paractenopsyllus raxworthyi Duchemin & Ratovonjato, 2004 (Siphonaptera, Leptopsyllidae) from Madagascar with a key to the species of Paractenopsyllus

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About