species of the day: Dolichopsyllus stylosus

[eub]

A species of flea, found only in association with the sewellel, Aplodontia rufa; one of four such known species of fleas.

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~entomology/FleaNews/FleaNews49.html

The proper phylogenetic position of this taxon is very much a matter of speculation. According to current family definition it is a leptopsyllid but it is not in the mainstream of evolution in the family. That it is larger and hairier than other members of the family suggests its primitivity. However, the presence of a well developed pronotal ctenidium and the loss of eyes suggest some specialization as a parasite of a semifossorial host. In my view, its extincton would eliminate what I consider to be the most plesiomorphic member of the entire family.