Echidnophaga myrmecobii is a stickfast flea that is native to Australia,[1] and is commonly found on marsupials and rabbits.[1] It is also found on European hares (Lepus europaeus),[2] cats, and dogs.[3]
| Echidnophaga myrmecobii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Siphonaptera |
| Family: | Pulicidae |
| Genus: | Echidnophaga |
| Species: | E. myrmecobii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echidnophaga myrmecobii Rothschild, 1909
| |
On rabbits, the flea is most commonly found on the head and body, whereas the related flea, Echidnophaga perilis, is more often found on the feet.[4] E. myrmecobii is a minor vector of myxomatosis between rabbits in Australia.[5]
Adult E. myrmecobii can jump 16.5 cm high.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b Myres, K; Parer, I; Richardson, BJ (1989). "Chapter 45: Leporidae". In Walton, DW; Richardson, BJ (eds.). Fauna of Australia (PDF). Canberra: AGPS. ISBN 9780644060561.
- ^ Shepherd, RCH.; Nolan, IF; Lane, IL; Edmonds, JW (1977). "Ectoparasites of the European hare (Lepus europaeus (Pallas)) in two regions of Victoria". Australian Journal of Entomology. 16 (1): 1–5. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1977.tb00050.x.
- ^ Seddon, HR (1967). Diseases of domestic animals in Australia: Arthropod infestations (flies, lice and fleas) (2nd ed.). Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Health. p. 148.
- ^ Shepherd, RCH; Edmonds, JW (1979). "The distribution of the stickfast fleas, Echidnophaga myrmecobii Rothschild and E. Perilis Jordan, on the wild rabbit, Oryctolagus Cuniculus (L.)". Australian Journal of Zoology. 27 (2): 261. doi:10.1071/ZO9790261.
- ^ Lehane, M. J. (1991). "9.4 Siphonaptera". Biology of Blood-Sucking Insects. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. p. 204=208. ISBN 978-94-011-7953-9.
- ^ Krasnov, BR (2008). "Chapter 8.2.1 Mechanics of a flea jump". Functional and evolutionary ecology of fleas: A model for ecological parasitology. Cambridge University Press. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9781139472661.
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