The Flea Family Tree: Phylogeny Of The Order Siphonaptera Based On 18s rDNA, 28s rDNA, Elongation Factor-1alpha, And Cytochrome Oxidase Ii Gene Regions

Authors

Alison Swindle, Brigham Young University
Dr. Michael F. Whiting, Brigham Young University

Keywords

fleas, phylogeny, Siphonaptera, insect orders, elongation factor-1alpha, cytochrome oxidase

College

Life Sciences

Department

Physiology and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Fleas are laterally compressed, wingless insects with small helmet shaped heads, and mouthparts specialized for feeding on the blood of their hosts. These morphological specializations make it possible for fleas to be entirely ectoparasitic, but they also make it difficult to find distinguishing characters on which to base taxonomy above the generic level (Holland, 1964). The highly derived state of flea morphology has resulted in questionable classification within the order, and lack of solid support for any group as the sister taxon to fleas. To this point there has been no molecular study that has considered fleas below the ordinal level. The purpose of this study was to collect a large body of molecular data from a wide sampling of fleas in order to investigate the phylogeny within the order Siphonaptera, and their relationship to other insect orders.

Recommended Citation

Swindle, Alison and Whiting, Dr. Michael F. (2014) "The Flea Family Tree: Phylogeny Of The Order Siphonaptera Based On 18s rDNA, 28s rDNA, Elongation Factor-1alpha, And Cytochrome Oxidase Ii Gene Regions," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 943.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/943