THE FLEAS OF NORTH AMERICA 21 



height, and the length of the last segment of each tarsus, but more 

 particularly the length of the last segment of tarsus III in compari- 

 son with the length of the second segment of tarsus II. 



That the three genera derived from Baker's Rhopalopsyllus repre- 

 sent natural groups of species there can be little doubt. However, 

 the writers have found it hard to place certain species into the newly 

 derived genera because of the intergradation of characters and their 

 individual variation; hence, the genera are here given the status of 

 subgenera. One subgenus, Tiamastus Jordan, does not occur in 

 North America. 



The Subgenus RHOPALOPSYLLUS Baker 



The subgenus Rhopalopsyllus Baker as here considered was de- 

 fined by Jordan in 1939 (J/.6, p. JUS) and has Rothschildella Ender- 

 lein as a synonym. 



Prosternuru humped or extending downward anteriorly between the coxae. 

 Mesosternum as high as long. Last segment of tarsus III longer than second 

 segment of tarsus II. Pygidium with strong projecting anterodorsal margin. 

 Head of receptaculum seminis without hump, being broadly rounded both above 

 and below. 



Type species. — By original designation (for the genus Rhopa- 

 lopsyllus), Pulex lutzii Baker. 



Three Xorth American species are included in this subgenus. 



Rhopalopsyllus (Rhopalopsyllus) australis australis (Rothschild) 



Pulex australis Rothschild. 1904. Novitates Zool. 11: 613. 



Rhopalopsyllus australis australis Jordan and Rothschild, 1923, Ectoparasites 

 1 : 327', fig. 338. 



Type host. — Tayassu pecari Fisch. (white-lipped peccary). 



Type locality. — Santa Andrea, Tabasco, Mexico. 



Range. — Mexico and Central and South America. 



In addition to the type variety, Rhopalopsyllus (R.) australis is 

 represented in South America by R. (R.) a. tupinus Jordan and 

 Rothschild (Peru, Bolivia), and R. (R.) a. tamoyus Jordan and 

 Rothschild (Paraguay, Brazil). 



Rhopalopsyllus (Rhopalopsyllus) cacicus saevus Jordan and Rothschild 



Rhopalopsyllus cacicus saevus Jordan and Rothschild, 1923, Ectoparasites 1: 

 325, fig. 322. 



Type host. — Felis pardalis mearnsi Allen (Mearns' ocelot). 



Type locality. — La Cabima, Panama. 



Range. — Central and South America. 



The typical variety of Rhopalopsyllus (R.) cacicus is from Peru. 



Rhopalopsyllus (Rhopalopsyllus) mesus Wagner 



Rhopalopsyllus mesus Wagner, 1933, Berlin Zool. Mus. Mitt. 18: 349, figs. 9-12. 



Type host. — "Saugetier mit dem einheimischen Xamen: Ha- 

 patschins.'' 



Type locality. — Twenty-five kilometers east of Cartago, Costa Rica. 

 Range. — Known only from Costa Rica. 



