| Echidna flea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Siphonaptera |
| Suborder: | Pygiopsyllomorpha |
| Family: | Pygiopsyllidae |
| Genus: |
Bradiopsylla Jordan & Rothschild, 1922 |
| Species: | B. echidnae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bradiopsylla echidnae (Denny, 1843)
| |
The echidna flea (Bradiopsylla echidnae) is the larger of two species of flea commonly found on the short-beaked echidna. It is monotypic, that is, the only species in the genus. [1] [2] This flea reaches 4 millimetres in length and has been claimed to be the world's largest flea. [3] This statement is in error as the world's largest flea is known to be the mountain beaver flea which can be as large as 12 millimetres in length. [4]
The echidna flea is found on short-beaked Echidnas in southeastern Australia and Tasmania, and although echidnas are distributed more widely throughout Australasia, it has not been recorded in New Guinea where other species of echidna occur ( Zaglossus and Tachyglossus) [2].The echidna flea has also been recorded once on a Tasmanian devil. [5]
The echidna flea has been a subject in several molecular studies as the out-group for phylogenetic trees of cat and dog fleas. [6] [7]
Evidence suggests that the echidna flea, in large infestation quantities, is responsible for a type of anemia and perhaps even a type of lymphoma in the short-beaked echidna. [8]
References
- ^ Lewis RE (August 1974). "Notes on the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera. 4. Coptopsyllidae, Pygiopsyllidae, Stephanocircidae and Xiphiopsyllidae". Journal of Medical Entomology. 11 (4): 403–13. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/11.4.403. PMID 4424098.
- ^ a b Dunnet GM, Nardon DK (1974). "A Monograph of Australian Fleas (Siphonaptera)". Australian Journal of Zoology. Supplementary Series. 22 (30): 1–273. doi: 10.1071/ajzs030.
- ^ "Short-beaked Echidna". Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania. Tasmanian Government. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ Yoon CK (2014-07-28). "The Great Giant Flea Hunt". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ Kwak ML, Madden C, Wicker L (2017). "The first record of the native flea Acanthopsylla rothschildi Rainbow, 1905 (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllidae) from the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii Boitard, 1841), with a review of the fleas associated with the Tasmanian devil". Australian Entomologist. 44 (4): 293–296.
- ^ Šlapeta Š, Šlapeta J (June 2016). "Molecular identity of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) from cats in Georgia, USA carrying Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia sp. RF2125". Veterinary Parasitology, Regional Studies and Reports. 3–4: 36–40. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.06.005. PMID 31014497.
- ^ Hii SF, Lawrence AL, Cuttell L, Tynas R, Abd Rani PA, Šlapeta J, Traub RJ (March 2015). "Evidence for a specific host-endosymbiont relationship between 'Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125' and Ctenocephalides felis orientis infesting dogs in India". Parasites & Vectors. 8 (1): 169. doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-0781-x. PMC 4369868. PMID 25884425.
- ^ Gentz, E.J.; Richard, M.J.; Stuart, L.D. (2009). "Splenic lymphoma in a short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)". Australian Veterinary Journal. 87 (7): 273–274. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00445.x. PMID 19573150.
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