Jump to content

Ixodidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 66.189.38.183 (talk) at 18:57, 28 March 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ixodidae
Ixodes ricinus (engorged)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Subclass:
Superorder:
Order:
Family:
Ixodidae

Ixodidae is a family of ticks containing the hard ticks.

Description

They are distinguished from the other main family of ticks, the soft ticks (Argasidae) by the presence of a scutum or hard shield.[1] Both nymphs and adults have a prominent capitulum (head) which projects forwards from the animal's body; in the Argasidae, conversely, the capitulum is concealed beneath the body. This makes them very crush resistant, except when they are engorged and can be crushed easily.

Classification

There are 702 species in 14 genera,[2] some of which are of considerable economic importance as vectors of diseases such as Rickettsia and Borrelia.[1]

The family contains the following genera:[2]

  • Data related to Ixodidae at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Ixodidae at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. ^ a b D. H. Molyneux (1993). "Vectors". In Francis E. G. Cox (ed.). Modern parasitology: a textbook of parasitology (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 53–74. ISBN 978-0-632-02585-5.
  2. ^ a b Alberto A. Guglielmone, Richard G. Robbing, Dmitry A. Apanaskevich, Trevor N. Petney, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Ivan G. Horak, Renfu Shao & Stephen C. Barker (2010). "The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari: Ixodida) of the world: a list of valid species names" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2528: 1–28.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)