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. 2013 Dec;99(6):970-2.
doi: 10.1645/13-306.1. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

A new Ixodes species (Acari: Ixodidae), parasite of shrew tenrecs (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae) in Madagascar

Dmitry A Apanaskevich  1 , Voahangy Soarimalala, Steven M Goodman
Affiliations

A new Ixodes species (Acari: Ixodidae), parasite of shrew tenrecs (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae) in Madagascar

Dmitry A Apanaskevich et al. J Parasitol. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Abstract : A new tick species belonging to the African subgenus Afrixodes Morel, 1966 of the genus Ixodes Latreille, 1795, namely, Ixodes (Afrixodes) microgalei n. sp., is described. Females of this species are most similar to those of Ixodes colasbelcouri Arthur, 1957 and Ixodes nesomys Uilenberg & Hoogstraal, 1969. The female of the new species can easily be differentiated from I. colasbelcouri by a short spur on coxae IV, and from I. nesomys by longer spurs on coxae I and large punctations on its scutum. Ixodes microgalei is known only from the eastern humid forest of Madagascar, specifically in the Province of Antananarivo, where its females have been collected from several species of shrew tenrecs (Afrosoricida, Tenrecidae), namely, Microgale dobsoni Thomas, Microgale parvula Grandidier, and Microgale soricoides Jenkins.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Ixodes microgalei n. sp., female. (A) Dorsal view. Leg segments from femur to tarsus are omitted. (B) Ventral view. Leg segments from femur to tarsus are omitted. (C) Spiracular plate. Arrows indicate orientation of spiracular plate (a, anterior; d, dorsal). (D) Tarsi I and II. (E) Tarsi III and IV. Bar = 0.5 mm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Ixodes microgalei n. sp., map of geographical distribution. Star indicates type locality; solid circles represent confirmed localities. The lines on the map represent the system of provincial boundaries.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Arthur DR. Ticks of the genus Ixodes in Africa. The Athlone Press; London, United Kingdom: 1965. p. 348.
    1. Goodman SM, Rakotondravony D, Raherilalao MJ, Rakotomalala D, Raselimanana AP, Soarimalala V, Duplantier J-M, Duchemin J-B, Rafanomezantsoa J. Inventaire biologique de la forêt de Tsinjoarivo, Ambatolampy. Akon’ny Ala. 2000;27:18–27.
    1. Klompen H. Ixodida, ticks, kongona. In: Goodman SM, Benstead JP, editors. The natural history of Madagascar. The University of Chicago Press; Chicago, Illinois: 2003. pp. 588–593.
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    1. Soarimalala V, Goodman SM. Les petits mammifères de Madagascar. Association Vahatra; Antananarivo, Madagascar: 2011. p. 176.

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