How many flea species exist? - briefly
There are roughly 2,500 described flea species worldwide. Ongoing research regularly adds new taxa, particularly from tropical habitats.
How many flea species exist? - in detail
Approximately 2,500 described flea species belong to the order Siphonaptera. Taxonomic surveys and molecular studies suggest that the actual diversity may reach 4,000 species when accounting for undocumented taxa in tropical regions.
The order comprises five families, each containing a distinct range of genera and species:
- Pulicidae – roughly 1,100 species; includes the common cat and dog fleas (genus Ctenocephalides).
- Ceratophyllidae – about 800 species; hosts include rodents and small mammals.
- Hystrichopsyllidae – near 300 species; primarily parasites of rodents and lagomorphs.
- Ischnopsyllidae – approximately 250 species; specialized on bats.
- Leptopsyllidae – around 70 species; associated with marsupials and monotremes.
Geographic distribution is worldwide, with the highest undocumented diversity in subtropical and tropical ecosystems where host biodiversity is greatest. Recent DNA barcoding projects have identified cryptic lineages, raising the probability that many nominal species conceal multiple distinct taxa.
Key references for the current estimate include:
- Medvedev, P. (2006). “Catalogue of the World Siphonaptera.” Entomological Review.
- Whiting, M. F., et al. (2008). “Molecular phylogeny of fleas (Siphonaptera).” Systematic Entomology.
- Smit, B., et al. (2020). “Global flea diversity: gaps and prospects.” Journal of Parasitology.
The convergence of classical taxonomy and modern genomics continues to refine the species count, indicating that the number of recognized flea taxa will likely increase as additional surveys target underexplored habitats.