What is the scientific name for ticks? - briefly
Ticks belong to the subclass Acari of the class Arachnida and are placed in the order Ixodida. The order Ixodida includes hard ticks (family Ixodidae) and soft ticks (family Argasidae).
What is the scientific name for ticks? - in detail
Ticks belong to the class Arachnida, subclass Acari, and are placed in the order Ixodida. The order comprises three families that contain all known tick species:
- Ixodidae – hard ticks, characterized by a scutum covering the dorsal surface.
- Argasidae – soft ticks, lacking a scutum and possessing a leathery cuticle.
- Nuttalliellidae – monotypic family represented by Nuttalliella kolbii, a primitive lineage sharing traits of both hard and soft ticks.
Each family includes numerous genera and species. Representative genera include Ixodes (hard ticks such as Ixodes scapularis), Dermacentor (hard ticks such as Dermacentor variabilis), Rhipicephalus (hard ticks such as Rhipicephalus sanguineus), Argas (soft ticks such as Argas persicus), and Ornithodoros (soft ticks such as Ornithodoros marginalis).
The scientific name for any tick follows the binomial nomenclature system, combining the genus and species epithets. For example, the common deer tick is designated «Ixodes scapularis», while the American dog tick carries the name «Dermacentor variabilis». The taxonomic hierarchy can be summarized as:
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Class Arachnida
- Subclass Acari
- Order Ixodida
- Family (Ixodidae, Argasidae, or Nuttalliellidae)
- Genus
- Species
Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on the blood of vertebrate hosts. Their morphology, life cycle, and vector capacity vary among families and genera, influencing disease transmission dynamics. Detailed identification relies on microscopic examination of morphological characters such as the presence or absence of a scutum, capitulum placement, and spiracular plates. Molecular techniques, including mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequencing, provide complementary tools for precise taxonomic resolution.