ISSN 1362-1971
An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996
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ISSN 1362-1971 An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996 [Aims] [Editors] [Content] [Subscriptions] [Contact details] [Society Homepage] |
Systematic & Applied Acarology (2006) 11, 23-39Systematic status of Aponomma tachyglossi Roberts (Acari: Ixodidae) from echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus, from Queensland, Australia
R.H. ANDREWS1, I. BEVERIDGE2, C.M. BULL3, N.B. CHILTON4, B. DIXON1 & T. PETNEY1
1 School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia
2 Department of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Veterinary Clinical Centre, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
3 Department of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
4 Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Abstract
Evidence is presented based on morphological, electrophoretic and behavioural data, and on geographical distribution, that Aponomma tachyglossi Roberts is an independent species parasitic primarily on echidnas. Females of A. tachyglossi are distinguishable from the closely related species A. hydrosauri (Denny), parasitic on reptiles, in the shape of the porose areas, and males by the extent of the punctate areas between the scutum and the festoons. Nymphs and larvae of the two species could not be distinguished. In electrophoretic studies, A. tachyglossi was found to differ from A. hydrosauri at 16% of the 18 loci examined. Larvae of A. tachyglossi failed to attach and engorge on lizards, the usual host of A. hydrosauri. Futhermore, A. tachyglossi was found to have a limited geographical range in coastal areas of central Queensland. These data support the hypothesis that A. tachyglossi is a distinct species.
Key words: Aponomma tachyglossi, Aponomma hydrosauri, identification, distribution
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