What are the types of ticks called? - briefly
Ticks belong to two families: hard ticks (Ixodidae), characterized by a dorsal scutum, and soft ticks (Argasidae), which lack a scutum and feed quickly.
What are the types of ticks called? - in detail
Ticks belong to the order Ixodida and are divided into three principal families.
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Ixodidae (hard ticks): Characterized by a rigid scutum covering the dorsal surface. Includes genera such as Ixodes (e.g., Ixodes scapularis – black‑legged tick), Dermacentor (e.g., Dermacentor variabilis – American dog tick), Rhipicephalus (e.g., Rhipicephalus sanguineus – brown dog tick), and Amblyomma (e.g., Amblyomma americanum – lone star tick). Hard ticks typically attach for several days to weeks while feeding.
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Argasidae (soft ticks): Lack a scutum and possess a leathery, flexible cuticle. Representative genera include Argas (e.g., Argas persicus – poultry tick) and Ornithodoros (e.g., Ornithodoros moubata – African relapsing fever tick). Soft ticks feed rapidly, often for minutes to a few hours, and are primarily nocturnal.
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Nuttalliellidae (monotypic family): Contains a single species, Nuttalliella namaqua, displaying traits intermediate between hard and soft ticks. Found in arid regions of southern Africa, it represents an evolutionary link within Ixodida.
Within each family, further classification relies on morphological features (e.g., mouthpart structure, presence of festoons), host specificity, and geographic distribution. Hard ticks are subdivided into subfamilies such as Ixodinae and Dermacentorinae, while soft ticks are grouped into Argasinae and Ornithodorinae. These taxonomic divisions facilitate identification, epidemiological research, and control strategies.