What does a crushed tick look like? - briefly
A flattened tick appears as a pale, soft, irregularly shaped mass with a squashed, translucent body and visible internal organs. The outer shell may be broken, exposing a grayish‑brown interior.
What does a crushed tick look like? - in detail
A flattened tick presents a markedly altered silhouette compared to its live form. The dorsal shield, normally a smooth, rounded oval, becomes compressed and irregular, often resembling a dark, flattened disc. The scutum (hard plate) may crack or split, exposing underlying tissues that appear mottled brown‑gray. Legs, which are thin and visible when the parasite is alive, are crushed into the body mass and rarely discernible; any remnants appear as faint, tangled threads near the edges. The mouthparts, including the hypostome, are flattened against the ventral surface, creating a subtle, raised ridge that can be felt but is hard to see. Internal contents spill outward, leaving a glossy, semi‑transparent sheen that may dry and turn amber‑colored as the specimen desiccates. In cross‑section, the body shows a collapsed, jelly‑like mass where the engorged abdomen once bulged, with blood residues forming dark stains along the sides. Overall, the creature loses its three‑dimensional curvature, adopting a thin, irregularly shaped patch that is darker than surrounding skin and may retain a faint, oily residue.