Tunga penetrans) Hectopsylla Hectopsyllinae Baker, 1904 (but see text) Sarcopsyllidae Taschenberg, 1880 Sarcopsyllinae Taschenberg, 1880 Tungidae Fox, 1925 (1880) Tunginae Fox, 1925 (1880) Hectopsyllidae is a small family of fleas, containing only the genera Tunga and Hectopsylla.

They were formerly known as Tungidae, and by authorities that demote the Pulicoidea to family rank they are treated as subfamily Hectopsyllinae (formerly Tunginae).

[1] The females are by and large immobile and will remain attached to the same place for prolonged periods of time, possibly until they die.

Females are neosomatic, meaning that they swell up greatly while producing new cuticle, resulting in structures known as neosomes.

The Hectopsyllidae differ from these by the following characteristics:[1] In addition, they have reduced setae on the antennal flagellum, but this may be an adaptation bearing little phylogenetic information.