[Description of Nosopsyllus (N.) atsbi n. sp. (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Ethiopia, and revision of the related species N. (N.) incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913); biogeographical discussion].
We describe a new Nosopsyllus s. sto., N. atsbi, from the north of Ethiopia, that shows phyletic similarities with N. incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913), a species from the oriental part of the afrotropical region. This led us to reconsider the classification of the incisus populations based on the unique criteria of telomere's setation (three robust marginal bristles, instead of the two typically present in members of this genus and subgenus). It appears that N. incisus s. sto. occurs in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania. In the north and south of this region (respectively central Ethiopia, on one hand, Zambia and Malawi, on the other hand), two taxa are morphologically distinct and we erect them here to the rank of subspecies: Nosopsyllus (N.) incisus traubi n. ssp. and N. (N.) incisus lewisi n. ssp. Actually, four taxa are in "incisus complex", namely: N. atsbi n. sp., N. incisus traubi n. ssp., N. incisus incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913), and N. incisus lewisi n. ssp.
Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Zoologie appliquée, Faculté de Médecine et Institut de Parasitologie de l'Ouest, 2, avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France. jc.beaucournu@gmail.com
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D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000818:Animals; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D051189:Murinae / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*