title: The flea genus Sigmactenus (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae): a new species from timor and new material from New Guinea and the Philippines.
abstract: Both sexes of Sigmactenus timorensis n. sp. are described from Rattus tanezumi and Rattus exulans collected in West Timor, Indonesia. The true host presumably is a native murine rat such as the extant, endemic Rattus timorensis or 1 of several extinct, endemic Timorese rats. Analyses of new collections of Sigmactenus cavifrons and Sigmactenus toxopeusi from New Guinea demonstrate that these fleas show considerable morphological variation. We propose that they represent a single species with the name S. toxopeusi having priority. New collections of Sigmactenus werneri from the Philippines expand the known hosts and geographical distribution of this flea.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro 30460, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Durden
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beaucournu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007312:Eulipotyphla / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D007214:Indonesia; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia; D009115:Muridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D010679:Philippines; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*