Ctenophthalmidae

Rodent flea Ctenophthalmus nobilis, photographed by Malcolm Storey.
Belongs within: Siphonaptera.

The Ctenophthalmidae are a family of fleas parasitic on small mammals.

Characters (from Brinck-Lindroth & Smit 2007): Antennal clava of male extending onto prosternosome. Mesonotum with pseudosetae under collar; metanotum without marginal spinelets. Terga II-VII each with more than one row of setae; antesensilial setae present in both sexes; sternum IX of male without apophysis; female with anal stylets, one spermatheca.

<==Ctenophthalmidae
    |--Neopsylla inopina GE05
    |--Palaeopsylla GE05
    |    |--P. baltica GE05
    |    |--P. dissimilis GE05
    |    |--P. klebsiana GE05
    |    |--P. minor A71
    |    `--P. soricis A71
    `--Ctenophthalmus GE05
         |--C. agyrtes GE05
         |--C. bisoctodentatus A71
         |--C. calceatus SEC08
         |--C. congener KK54
         |--C. natalensis SEC08
         |--C. nobilis A71
         |    |--C. n. nobilis A71
         |    `--C. n. vulgaris A71
         `--C. smithersi SEC08

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[A71] Askew, R. R. 1971. Parasitic Insects. Heinemann Educational Books: London.

Brinck-Lindroth, G., & F. G. A. M. Smit. 2007. The Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Brill.

[GE05] Grimaldi, D., & M. S. Engel. 2005. Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press: New York.

[KK54] Klemmer, K., & H. E. Krampitz. 1954. Zur Kenntnis der Säugetierfauna Siziliens. Senckenbergiana Biologica 35 (3-4): 121-135.

[SEC08] Shihepo, F., S. Eiseb & P. Cunningham. 2008. Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) associated with small mammals in selected areas in northern Namibia. Journal Namibia Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft 56: 5-23.