The flea genus Sigmactenus (Siphonaptera : Leptopsyllidae): A new species from timor and new material from New Guinea and the Philippines

Both sexes of Sigmactenus timorensis n. sp. are described from Rattus tanez umi and Rattus exulans collected in West Timer Indonesia. The true host pre sumably is a native murine rat such as the errant, endemic Rattus timorensi s or 1 of several extinct. endemic Timorese rats. Analyses of new collectio ns of Sigmactenus cavifrons and Sigmatenus toxopeusi from New Guinea demons trate that these fleas show considerable morphological variation. We propos e that they represent a single species with the name S. toxopeusi having pr iority. New collections of Sigmatenus werneri from the Philippines expand t he known hosts and geographical distribution of this flea.