Morphological variability in Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis (Jordan & Rothschild, 1908) (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae: Rhopalopsyllinae) and taxonomic consequences.

MARCELA LARESCHI; PEDRO M LINARDI

Zootaxa

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Año: 2009 vol. 2310 p. 35 - 42

1175-5326

Two subspecies of the flea Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis (Jordan & Rothschild) are currently recognized. In the present study we analyze the morphology of characters of males and females, which are considered diagnostic by the literature for identification of subspecies, such as the length of the setae of the hindtibia and hindtarsal segments, the number of setae on the basal abdominal sternum, and the number of setae on outer surface of hindfemur. In females, the shape of the ventral margin of the bulga of the spermatheca. In males, the number of convolutions of the coil of aedeagal tubus inferior was also examined. A great variation of every characteristic was observed, independently of the locality of collection, and host taxonomic group. However, a combination of the different states of the characters, such as they are presented in the original descriptions of the subspecies and in the keys present in the literature, was not observed. Then, we support the inexistence of different subspecies of P (P.) platensis.