
AMERICAN MUSEUM GUIDE LEAFLETS 
on internal anatomy. Ceratophyllus fasciatus is the rat and plague 
flea of temperate regions. It feeds on rats, mice, skunks, and man. 
In America, it seems to be confined to California; but it also occurs 
abundantly in Europe. Xenopsylla cheopis is the tropical rat and 
plague flea. Although it largely confines its attentions to rats, it 
also, unfortunately, attacks man. The cosmopolitan human flea 
(Pulex irritans) is most abundant in warm regions, and attacks rats, 
skunks, and domestic animals as well as its normal prey, man. The 
cat and dog fleas, Ctenocephalus canis (female’s head less than twice 
as long as high) respectively, are common parasites. 

Fig. 26. MODEL OF THE FLEA (Pulex irritans) 
American Museum of Natural History 
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