Family CERATOPHYLLIDAE

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Introduction

Ceratophyllidae, a large family with a mainly Holarctic distribution, are found on birds and mammals (Traub et al. 1983). Worldwide the family contains 44 genera and 403 species currently arranged in two subfamilies, Ceratophyllinae and Dactylopsyllinae, and was catalogued by Lewis (1990). Originally this family seems to have been associated with small rodents, especially squirrels (Sciuridae); 15 genera are known from arboreal sciurids, three on terrestrial sciurids and 11 on cricetids and murids. Smit (1982) considered the family comprises three subfamilies—Ceratophyllinae, Leptopsyllinae and Amphipsyllinae, while Traub et al. (1983) and Lewis (1998) considered the Leptopsyllinae as a separate family.

Two genera and three introduced species are recorded from Australia. The two species of Nosopsyllus Jordan recorded in Australia are now cosmopolitan, being found on commensal rats and mice. Nosopsyllus is mainly a genus of rodent fleas in the Palaearctic, with a few species from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions; 52 species arranged in four subgenera have been recorded (Lewis 1998). Nosopsyllus fasciatus is a cosmopolitan species on commensal rats, although it is generally limited to the more temperate or even colder parts of the regions penetrated by Rattus. Most reports of this species are from port areas although it is also found inland along the main transport routes (Traub et al. 1983).

Ceratophyllus Curtis, a mainly Holarctic genus extends into the northern Neotropical Region. It comprises six subgenera and 64 species, most of which infest birds (mainly birds that nest in holes in banks, cliffs, trees, or rock crevices and return to the same nest year after year), although 14 species are known to infest sciurids or other mammals (Traub et al. 1983; Lewis & Lewis 1985; Lewis 1998). The only species of Ceratophyllus recorded from Australia, C. gallinae, is thought to have been introduced with domestic poultry. It prefers relatively dry nests in shrubs, trees and nesting boxes, conditions similar to those found in poultry-houses (Smit 1965). In Europe, as in other parts of the world, this flea is of economic importance as a pest of poultry. Dunnet & Mardon (1974) did not see or examine any specimens of this species for their monograph, but instead attributed the record to Roberts (1952).

The monotypic genus Glaciopsyllus Smit & Dunnet is the only known truly Antarctic flea being known from the circum-Antarctic islands. It is associated with cliff-nesting seabirds, or birds nesting on rocky slopes and is possibly restricted to petrels (Traub et al. 1983).

Ceratophyllids are characterised as head integricipit; small frontal tubercle present; genal ctenidium absent; antennal fossa open; pronotal ctenidium present (vestigial in Glaciopsyllus); mesonotum with pseudosetae under collar; metanotum with marginal spinelets; link sclerite between metepimeron and basal sternum absent; mid coxa with outer internal ridge; abdominal terga with two or more rows of bristles; tergum VII antesensilial bristles present.

General References

Dunnet, G.M. & Mardon, D.K. 1974. A monograph of Australian fleas (Siphonaptera). Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 30: 1-273

Dunnet, G.M. & Mardon, D.K. 1991. Siphonaptera (Fleas). pp. 705-716 in CSIRO (ed.). The Insects of Australia. A textbook for students and research workers. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press Vol. 2 pp. 543-1137.

Lewis, R.E. 1998. Résumé of the Siphonaptera (Insecta) of the World. Journal of Medical Entomology 35(4): 377-389 [Date published 31/July/1998]

Lewis, R.E. & Lewis, J.H. 1985. Notes on the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera. Part 7. New taxa described between 1972 and 1983, with a supraspecific classification of the order. Journal of Medical Entomology 22: 134-152

Roberts, F.H.S. 1952. Insects Affecting Livestock, with special reference to important species occurring in Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson vi 267 pp.

Smit, F.G.A.M. 1965. Siphonaptera of New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Zoology 7: 1-50

Smit, F.G.A.M. 1982. Siphonaptera. pp. 557-563 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw Hill Vol. 2 1232 pp.

Traub, R., Rothschild, M. & Haddow, J.F. 1983. The Rothschild Collection of Fleas. The Ceratophyllidae: key to the genera and host relationships. Cambridge : M. Rothschild & R. Traub xv 288 pp. 90 pls.

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