Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis Hastriter & Dick, 2009

Hastriter, Michael & Dick, Carl, 2009, A description of the flea species Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis n. sp. and the female sex of Paractenopsyllus raxworthyi Duchemin & Ratovonjato, 2004 (Siphonaptera, Leptopsyllidae) from Madagascar with a key to the species of Paractenopsyllus, ZooKeys 13 (13), pp. 43-55 : 47-51

Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis Hastriter & Dick , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9351B91F-FC97-47FB-B8C2-C1194681FFC8

Figs 1 -13

Type Material. Holotype. 3, 1♀ Paratype (SMG-13919), Fianarantsoa Province, Midongy S, Parc National de Midongy-Sud, NE slope Mt Papango (23°50’17.9982”S, 46°57’29.9988”E), 3.5 km SW Befotaka, 1250 m, ex Eliurus tanala Major, 1896 (FMNH-178699), 3 XI 2003 , S.G. Goodman; allotype ♀, 43, 1♀ paratypes (SMG- 13903, SMG-13924), same data as holotype except E. tanala (FMNH-178698, FMNH-178644), 2-5 XI 2003 ; 1♀ paratype (SMG-13904), same data as holotype except Eliurus majori Thomas, 1895 (FMNH-178686); 33 , 7♀ paratypes (SMG- 13918, SMG-13935), same data as holotype except Eliurus webbi Ellerman, 1849 (FMNH-178712, FMNH-178646), 3, 6 XI 2003 ; 13 paratype (SMG-13920), same data as holotype except Gymnuromys roberti Major, 1896 (FMNH-178717) ; 13 paratype (SMG-13905), same data as holotype except Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) (FMNH-178680), 2 X 2003 ; 13, 1♀ paratypes (SMG-13863, SMG-13900), Parc National de Midongy-Sud, NE slope Mt Papango (23°50’06”S, 46°57’47.9982”E), 2.5 km SW Befotaka, 875 m elev., ex E. tanala (FMNH-178693, FMNH-178696), 28, 31 X 2003 , S.M. Goodman; 1♀ paratype (SMG-13979), W slope Mt Ambatobe, 1.2 km ENE Ampatramary, 9.5 km NE Midongy-Sud (23°30’36”S, 47°03’6.0012”E), 650 m elev., ex E. webbi (FMNH-178716), 14 XI 2003 , S.M. Goodman; 1♀ paratype (SMG-13980), W slope Mt Ambatobe, 1.2 km ENE Ampatramary, 9.5 km NE Midongy-Sud (23°30’36”S, 47°03’6.0012”E), 650 m elev., ex Eliurus minor Major, 1896 (FMNH-178691), 14 XI 2003 , S.M. Goodman; and 13 paratype (SMG-14002),

W slope Mt Ambatobe, 1.2 km ENE Ampatramary, 9.5 km NE Midongy-Sud (23°30’36”S, 47°03’6.0012”E), 650 m elev., ex Nesomys rufus Peters, 1870 (FMNH- 178649), 16 XI 2003. The holotype, allotype, and eight pairs of paratypes are deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History , Chicago, IL, one pair of paratypes each in the U.S. National Museum of Natural History , Washington, D.C. and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History , Pittsburgh, PA, and two pairs of paratypes in the senior author’s collection. Mammal host specimens are deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History , Chicago, IL .

Diagnosis. Males most closely allied with P. oconnori (females unknown), but distinguished by details of the aedeagus. The median dorsal lobe is expanded dorsally and greatly enlarged compared to all species except P. oconnori . Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis differs from P. oconnori by the presence of a distinct lateral lobe arising from the median dorsal lobe. Females differ from all other species possessing more than 28 teeth in the pronotal comb by the presence of one extremely long and narrow lobe on the caudal margin of S-VII (Fig. 9).

Description. Head ( Figs. 1-2 ). Frontal tubercle high on frons; farther from oral angle than distance from oral angle to base of first genal tooth. Frontal row of 9 setae; middle three thickened and somewhat spiniform. Two placoids above frontal tubercle. Preantennal area with minute scattered pits bearing minute coniform peg-like structures. Heavily sclerotized incrassation at oral angle; one thick seta at base of labial palpus. Area behind frontal row with 6 long setae and 17-18 minute scattered setae (only 4 long setae in female). Tentorium visible anterior to small pigmented eye; eye with ventral notch. Two genal ctenidia off-set at bases; anterior tooth about 2/3 length of posterior. Two lucodiscs at base of second genal tooth (see Hastriter 2009). Postantennal area with 4 rows of stout setae (4, 3, 6, and 7). Three placoids present; one lucodisc dorsad between rows 3 and 4. Occipital groove lacking. Antennal fossa heavily sclerotized from eye to falx and from falx to angle of scape. Scape with oblique row of 6 fine setae; two at dorsal apex. Pedicel with 8-10 fine marginal setae; none extended beyond basal segment of clavus. Clavus not extended onto prosternum. Penultimate segment of labial palpus shortest. Maxilla sharply pointed; palpus of 5 segments. Thorax ( Fig. 1-2 ). Pronotum with two rows of setae (8, 6); pronotal ctenidia with 31 spines. Three lucodiscs present. Prosternum with heavily sclerotized phragma extended beneath ventral portion of pronotal ctenidia. Mesonotum with two rows of setae (6, 5); anterior group of scattered smaller setae. Mesepisternum with 3 setae (6 in female); mesepimeron with 4 setae. Pleural rod bifurcate at dorsal third. Mesosternum heavily sclerotized; truncate. One stout pseudoseta under hyaline mesonotal collar. Metanotum with two rows of setae (8, 6); main row very stout setae. Anterior scattered setae. Lateral margins of metanotum oblique from apex to lateral base; no apparent overlap with metepimeron. One pigmented marginal spinelet at dorsum. Lateral metanotal area with two setae. Metepisternum with one long seta; length of squamulum>2× width. Metasternum projecting ventrad between coxae. Pleural ridge stout; with hyaline ribbon-like sclerotization extended its length beneath. Metepimeron with 3 vertical rows of setae (5, 5, and 1)(anterior row

only 2 in female); spiracle longer than wide, rounded at apex. Legs (Fig. 13). Procoxa with more than 40 lateral setae; 2 long marginal setae along apical caudal margin. Lateral sulcus of mesocoxa more than 3/4 complete. Metacoxa with apical comb of 5 long setae extended over trochanter. Profemur with 5 small lateral setae; one small mesal seta. One femoral-tibial guard seta on profemur; two on other femora; lateral short and stout, mesal long and stout. Margin of fore, mid and hind tibiae with three dorsal notches each bearing a one long seta, interspersed with false combs of heavy dark bristles. Three lateral rows of setae on metatibiae (7, 10, and 8). Distotarsomeres each with five pairs lateral plantar bristles; first pair shifted onto plantar surface between second pair. Each distotarsomere with 2 spiniform preapical plantar bristles; row of 4 setae at apex extended over tarsal claw on dorsal side of segment in addition to usual preapical lateral hairs. Numerous fine setae on plantar surfaces of distotarsomeres. Unmodified Abdominal Segments. Terga I-VI have three rows of setae (anterior composed of only 1-2 minute setae). Tergum VII with two rows of setae; three antesensilial bristles (lateral and mesal less than half-length of middle bristle). One seta below level of each spiracle in main rows. Sternum II with one stout seta; minute seta anterior to main seta. Sterna III-VII with main row of 3 stout setae, group of 6-8 smaller setae anterior to main rows. Sensilium with 18 sensilial pits. Modified Abdominal Segments, Male ( Figs. 5-7 ). Tergum VIII extended onto basimere; with 3 long setae ventral to spiracle and group of 8-9 small setae dorsal to spiracle. Basimere of T-IX with few setae on lateral surface; mesal surface with oblique row of 8-9 minute setae from apex to middle of basimere. One long slender seta at caudal margin of basimere (may represent acetabular bristle). Telomere long, sides parallel with short marginal setae sparsely distributed along caudal and dorsal margins. Manubrium stout, long, and arched upward. Sternum VIII longer than wide with parallel sides; apex with sinus forming dorsal and ventral lobes. Lobes with 4-5 long setae; numerous shorter setae anterior to those on lobes. Distal arm of S-IX with sides of basal lobe somewhat parallel with fine long setae along caudal margin. Apical lobe of distal arm of S-IX tapering towards apex; fine setae on anterodorsal margin. Aedeagus ( Figs. 3-4 ). Aedeagal apodeme long and narrow (length more than 5× maximum width). Proximal spur sclerotized extended to enveloping girdle of phallosome. Penis rods exceed apex of aedeagal apodeme. Median dorsal lobe bulged on dorsum; rounded at apex. Ventral margin of median dorsal lobe with rugulose area, subtended by lateral lobes. Crescent sclerite sclerotized, thick in outline. Sclerotized inner tube with ornate sclerotized structures at dorsal apex. Crochet leaf-like towards apex; pointed apex folded back onto itself. Base of crochet with dorsal triangular lobe bearing small paxillus. Modified Abdominal Segments, Female (Figs. 9-12). Three antesensilial bristles, middle only slightly longer than others. Tergum VIII with two large apical lobes; dorsal shorter than ventral lobe. Eleven to 12 short setae dorsal to spiracle VIII; 1 very long and 2 short setae just below spiracle. Dorsal lobe of T-VIII without setae; ventral lobe with 15-16 setae, apical setae longer. Mesal surface of T- VIII with four stout setae. Sternum VII with long parallel sided lobe (length 6-7× width). Oblique row of 6 stout long setae; 9-10 shorter setae anterior to main row. Hilla and bulga of spermatheca approximately equal in length; cribriform area flattened. Hilla slightly restricted at bulga. Bursa copulatrix reflected caudad as a smooth arch. Sclerotized portion of perula flattened on dorsum. Anal stylet expanded from base to one lateral seta; narrower from lateral seta to apex with one seta. Ventral anal lobe triangular; ventral margin with line of 3 very stout short setae and 3 stout long setae. Sternum VIII without setae

Length (slide mounted specimens): Holotype 3.2mm, male average: 3.1mm (n = 12; range: 2709-3247µ); allotype 3.3mm, female average: 3.4mm (n = 12; range: 3100-3844µ).

Etymology. The species bears the name of the country from which it was collected.

Remarks. The number of specimens of this new species is few and it appears to be limited to rodents of the murid subfamily Nesomyinae since six different species represented by three genera were infested. Its occurrence on R. rattus may be accidental, as this rodent is ubiquitous and plentiful but rarely infested by P. madagascarensis . Most of the species within the genus Paractenopsyllus infest either tenrecs, or murids, but not both ( Table 1 ).

Figures

Figures 1-8. Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis sp. n. 1 Head and thorax, holotype 3 (SMG-13919). 2 Head and thorax, allotype ♀ (SMG-13903). 3 Aedeagus, paratype 3 (SMG-14002). 4 Apex of aedeagus, paratype 3 (SMG-14002). 5 Basimere and telomere, mesal aspect, paratype 3 (SMG-14002). 6 Eighth tergite, paratype 3, (SMG-14002). 7 Eighth sternite, paratype 3 (SMG-14002). 8 Ninth sternite, paratype 3 (SMG-14002). Scale = 200µ