Bolivian Ectoparasites: A Survey of the Fleas of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae)

摘要

We present the results of a multiyear survey of the fleas from ctenomyid rodents across many different habitats from throughout Bolivia. New species records for Bolivia include Tiamastus palpalis and Ectinorus (Panal-lius) galeanus. New records of fleas from Ctenomys in Bolivia include Gephyropsylla klagesi, Sphinctopsylla inca, and Tetrapsyllus tristis. In the Neotropical region, 1 of the rodent groups that has not been investigated extensively for the presence of ectoparasites is the Ctenomyidae (tuco-tucos). Species of Ctenomys Blainville, 1826 are rodents that are highly specialized and adapted for burrowing and living underground (Nevo, 1979). Because of these adaptations, their bodies have several characters specific to a subterranean lifestyle, including reduced pinnae, fusiform body shape, loose skin, and a tactile tail (Anderson, 1997). In Bolivia, populations of ctenomyids occur in suitable habitat from a northern limit just southwest and southeast of the southern tip of Lake Titicaca (Ctenomys leucodon Waterhouse 1848) southward through the highlands of the Altiplano (Ctenomys opimus Wagner 1848), and through the foothills of the Andes into the lowlands (several species, see Fig. 1; Anderson [1997]; Gardner et al. [in press]). Individuals of most species of Ctenomys are probably solitary except during the mating season, and little work has been published on the behavior of the majority of known species with the exception of Ctenomys sociabilis Pearson and Christie, 1985 (see Tammone et al. [2012]; Pearson and Christie [1985]; Lacey et al. [1997]).