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Glite Dictionary
Ctenocephalides felis

Ctenocephalides felis

9.9
A small insect that lives on cats and dogs and bites them, making them itchy
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛnəˈsɛfəlɪdiːz ˈfɛlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pulga del gato
  • Veterinarians often prescribe treatments to eliminate Ctenocephalides felis infestations in household pets.

Examples

  • Ctenocephalides felis is responsible for much of the itching seen in cats and dogs.

  • Recent studies show that Ctenocephalides felis can also carry certain diseases transmissible to humans.

  • The Ctenocephalides felis is a common pest in households with pets.

  • Many pet owners struggle with Ctenocephalides felis infestations.

  • Ctenocephalides felis is a common flea that causes irritation in both cats and dogs.

  • If left untreated, Ctenocephalides felis can lead to serious health issues in pets.

  • Owners must regularly check their pets for signs of Ctenocephalides felis to ensure their well-being.

Synonyms

cat flea
vsCtenocephalides felis
5.0

A small insect that lives on cats and other animals and drinks their blood

is the scientific species name for the same insect

Surface Forms

Ctenocephalides felis singular
Ctenocephalides felises plural

Morphology

Ctenocephalides + Felis

This is a Linnaean binomial: Ctenocephalides (a genus of fleas) + Felis (the cat genus) literally signals a flea species associated with cats. Because the compound follows regular scientific naming conventions and its parts directly indicate 'flea' + 'cat', a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning 'cat flea'.

Etymology

The scientific name Ctenocephalides felis comes from Greek and Latin parts: cteno meaning 'comb', cephalides meaning 'head', and felis meaning 'cat'. Because these fleas have tiny comb-like spines near their heads and were first found on cats, the name points to the 'cat flea' we use today.