Eospilopsyllus Beaucournu & Perrichot, n. gen.

Type-species: Eospilopsyllus kobberti n. sp., by monotypy.

Diagnosis. The new genus has the typical habitus of spilopsyllines, viz. a heavily sclerotized oval body and a symmetrical, non-foliaceous antennal club. It is distinguished from all five genera known in the tribe Spilopsyllini by the absence of ctenidia combined with smaller eyes; the presence on frons of eight minute setae in a sinuous vertical row along the fronto-genal suture; the sub-lanceolate terminal segment of the maxillary palpus, with a posterior expansion around one-third of the length and a very acute tip; the legs with femoro-tibial joints each bearing one short and one long guard setae, the long one external on profemur, internal on meso and metafemur; the dorsal margin of tibiae bearing six notches for the insertion of bristles (shared with Spilopsyllus s. str., except species formerly in Cediopsylla); five pairs of lateral plantar bristles on distitarsomeres (three pairs in Actenopsylla, four pairs in other genera), with penultimate bristles the shortest; a reduced opening between the tarsal claw and the basal lobe of ungues; and enlarged second abdominal sternite.

Etymology. The new genus-group name is a combination of the Greek prefix eos meaning "dawn" (as a reference to early, or ancient) and Spilopsyllus, the type-genus of Spilopsyllini.

Comments. The new genus can be recognized as a member of the Spilopsyllini by possession of antennae with a non-foliaceous, symmetrical club (Hopkins & Rothschild 1953).