Echidnophaga myrmecobii

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

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]

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

1. Myres, K; Parer, I; Richardson, BJ (1989). "Chapter 45: Leporidae". In Walton, DW; Richardson, BJ (eds.). Fauna of Australia (PDF). Canberra: AGPS. ISBN 9780644060561.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Lehane, M. J. (1991). "9.4 Siphonaptera". Biology of Blood-Sucking Insects. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. p. 204=208. ISBN 978-94-011-7953-9.
6. 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.