What does an inter-pectoral tick look like? - briefly
A tiny, dark‑brown or black oval arachnid, about the size of a pinhead, is found lodged between the pectoral muscles. Its eight short legs are visible as a faint fringe around the compact body.
What does an inter-pectoral tick look like? - in detail
Ticks that attach in the space between the pectoral muscles present the same basic morphology as other attached ticks, but their position makes them harder to see. The body (scutum) is oval, typically 3–5 mm long when unfed and up to 10 mm when fully engorged. Color ranges from reddish‑brown in early stages to dark brown or gray‑black after feeding. The dorsal surface may appear smooth or slightly textured, depending on species.
Key visual features include:
- Six short legs emerging from the ventral side, each ending in tiny claws that grip the skin.
- A pair of elongated mouthparts (chelicerae and hypostome) extending forward from the front edge of the body; the hypostome is barbed and may be visible as a small, dark projection.
- A clear demarcation between the scutum and the softer, expandable posterior region; the latter expands dramatically as the tick fills with blood.
- In engorged specimens, the abdomen becomes balloon‑like, often obscuring the scutum and giving the tick a rounded, glossy appearance.
Because the inter‑pectoral region is covered by a thin layer of skin and subcutaneous tissue, the tick may be palpable as a firm nodule rather than immediately visible. Skin over the tick can appear reddened or slightly raised, and the tick’s outline may be discernible as a small, oval lump beneath the surface.
Identifying characteristics are consistent across common species (e.g., Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis). Species‑specific details—such as the presence of ornate patterns on the scutum in Dermacentor or the lack of a scutum in the larval stage of Ixodes—help refine identification when the tick is examined closely.