Fleas (Siphonaptera) of mammals and birds in the Great Caucasus

Abstract

There are 116 species of fleas in the territory of the Great Caucasus, of which 21 species occur on birds and the rest, on mammals. Among the 41 flea genera present in the Caucasian fauna, only Caenopsylla, Phaenopsylla, and Araeopsylla are absent in the Great Caucasus. There are 11 endemic species. Fleas of 66 species are distributed over the entire mountain system. Parasites of some birds, carnivores, insectivores, and rodents occur from lowlands to highlands. Some species inhabit the forest altitudinal belt while others prefer the foothill and middle mountain areas, being absent in the highlands even though their hosts may occur at all the altitudes. The distribution of other species is limited to lowlands in accordance with that of their main hosts