A Monograph of Australian Fleas (Siphonaptera)

Abstract

Our knowledge of the flea fauna of Australia, including Tasmania and Macquarie I., summarized here, is derived from a large number of collections made since the mid-nineteenth century, and scattered publications, mainly taxonomic, from 1843 to 1972. The taxonomy of several groups of Australian fleas has been reviewed in other recent publications, and no further changes or new forms are described here.

A key is given to the genera of Australian fleas, with additional keys to species and subspecies for each polytypic genus. All species are illustrated, the well-known and cosmopolitan species with the minimum of figures, the less well-known endemic species, some of which have not previously been illustrated adequately, more copiously. Diagnoses are given for all taxa, except the superfamilies and subfamilies.

Eighty-three species and subspecies from 31 genera and nine families are included. For each species all known host and locality records are given, and the known distribution is mapped. The majority of species are endemic*; eight are indigenous* but occur elsewhere, while 10 are introduced with man and his commensals. The largest Australian family, Pygiopsyllidae, predominantly Australian and New Guinean in distribution, and the exclusively Australian subfamily Stephanocircinae and family Macropsyllidae are associated with both marsupials and rodents. Pulicidae are represented by both endemic and introduced species, associated with marsupials, rodents, man and domestic animals. Of hystrichopsyllids only two endemic species are known, while the bat-fleas (Ischnopsyllidae) are represented by three indigenous genera, only one of which extends beyond the Australian Region. The South American family Rhopalopsyllidae is represented by four species on seabirds, and introduced species of Leptopsyllidae and Ceratophyllidae are recorded. Four of the species listed are known from seabirds on Macquarie I. and have not so far been recorded from Australia or Tasmania.

A bibliography of Australian fleas is provided.