Echidnophaga suricatta (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), a new species of flea from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Echidnophaga suricatta (Pulicidae), a new species of flea collected from the meerkat (Suricata suricatta Schreber, 1776) near Garies (30°22’S, 17°31’E) and Brandvlei (30°27’S, 20°29’E), Northern Cape Province, South Africa, is described. Based on chaetotaxy of the tarsal segments, this new species is most closely related to E. bradyta Jordan & Rothschild, 1906, E. iberica Ribeiro, Lucientes, Osacar & Calvete, 1994, E. macronychia Jordan & Rothschild, 1906, and E. ochotona Li, 1957. A key is provided for the 23 recognized species or subspecies in the genus Echidnophaga.

Keywords: taxonomy, morphology, taxonomic key, mammalian ectoparasites, arthropods