New records of fleas (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae: Rhopalopsyllidae and Stephanocircidae) from Argentinean Patagonia, with remarks on the morphology of Agastopsylla boxi and Tiarapsylla argentina

Abstract

A high diversity of fleas parasitizing sigmodontine rodents has been mentioned for Patagonia. Severalof these fleas have been described having their type localities in the region, including several endemic taxa. Formany species, however, the original descriptions are brief and there are no new morphological contributions. In thepresent study we report 8 species of fleas (Ctenophthalmidae, Rhopalopsyllidae and Stephanocircidae) parasitizingsigmodontine rodents from Argentinean Patagonia. Nineteen new parasite–host associations are reported and allstudied fleas extend their known geographic range. Among them, Tiarapsylla argentina is mentioned for the firsttime for Patagonia; Craneopsylla minerva, Sphinctopsylla ares, Polygenis (P.) platensis and Polygenis (P.) rimatusare registered for the first time for Chubut, and Agastopsylla boxi, Ectinorus (E.) ixanus and Ectinorus (E.) hapalusfor Santa Cruz, extending the southernmost limit of their geographical distribution. Also, for A. boxi and T. argentinawe describe the morphology of the aedeagus, so far unknown. Results extend the morphological information of fleasand contribute to the knowledge of Patagonian biodiversity.