Number of species in genus

Amblyomma (Aponomma) 20 species (Horak et al. 2002)
Bothriocroton 6 species (Barker & Murrell 2004, Beati et al. 2008)

Species list

Amblyomma (Aponomma)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) arcanum (Karsch, 1879)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) crassipes (Neumann, 1901)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) elaphense (Price, 1959)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) exornatum Koch, 1844
Amblyomma (Aponomma) fimbriatum Koch, 1844
Amblyomma (Aponomma) flavomaculatum (Lucas, 1846)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) fuscolineatum (Lucas, 1847)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) gervaisi (Lucas, 1847)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) inopinatum (Santos Dias, 1989)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) komodoense (Oudemans, 1928)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) kraneveldi (Anastos, 1956)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) latum Koch, 1844
Amblyomma (Aponomma) orlovi Kolonin, 1992)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) pattoni (Neumann, 1910)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) soembawense (Anastos, 1956)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) sphenodonti (Dumbleton, 1943)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) transversale (Lucas, 1844)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) trimaculatum (Lucas, 1878)
Amblyomma (Aponomma) varanense (Supino, 1897)

Identifying features of genus

Eyeless Amblyomma (Aponomma )

Adults

• Anal groove: Present and embracing the anus posteriorly
• Eyes: Absent
• Festoons: Present and numbering 11
• Basis capituli: Variable in form but often sub rectangular or subtriangular
• Ornamentation: Present or Absent
• Palpi: Usually elongate, with article 2 being especially long.
• Ventral plates (males only): Absent, but small ventral plaques may be present
• Body shape: Usually subcircular in shape
• Hosts: Reptiles

Nymphs

• Anal groove: Absent
• Palpi: Long with 4 articles
• Festoons: Present and numbering 11
• Number of large wax glands near s6: One pair of large wax glands between MD2 and MD3 (s6 )
• Tibial setae: ad2 and pd2 on legs 2-3 absent
• Eyes: Absent
• Post hypostoma setae: 1 pair present
• Parma: With lyrifissure pair iSv6 present

Species occuring in New Zealand

Species that are considered to be a risk

The hosts of Amblyomma (Aponomma) are largely restricted to reptiles.  It is therefore unlikely that members of this genus will gain entry to New Zealand via attachment to humans and/or compainion aninals such as dogs and cats. It is therefore unlikely that members of this genus will gain entry to New Zealand via attachment to humans and/or compainion aninals such as dogs and cats.  Furthermore the movement of reptiles into New Zealand via the pet trade is small.  It is therfore considered  the Amblyomma (Aponomma) are unlikely to gain entry into New Zealand and are not considered to be of a high risk.  However, if a species from this genus did establish in New Zealand it is possible that it would pose a risk to our reptile fauna.

top

Species previously intercepted at border

As of June 2009 no Amblyomma species that were previously assigned to Aponomma have been intercepted at New Zealands border. 

General comments

Based on the evidence presented in Klompen et al. (2002) 5 species of Australian Aponomma were transferred to the genus Bothriocroton while the remaining 20 species of Aponomma were transferred into the genus Amblyomma.  The only species formally belonging to the genus Apomomma previously intercepted at New Zealands border is B. (Aponomma) hydrosauri. It is unlikely that the former Aponomma present a significant threat to New Zealands animal production systems.  However, they may potentially represent a threat to herptiles that are endemic to New Zealand should they become established in this country.

Useful references

Barker SC & Murrell A 2004.  Systematics and evolution of ticks with a list of valid genus and species names. Parasitology, 129: S15-S36.

Camicas, JL, hervy JP, Adam, F & Morel PC 1998.  Les Tiques de Monde. Nomenclature, stades decrits, hotes, repartition. The ticks of the world. Nomenclature, described stages, hosts, distribution (Acarida, Ixodida). France, Orstom Editions.

Horack IG, Camicas, J-L & Kierans, JE 2002. The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari: Ixodida): a world list of valid tick names. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 28: 27-54.

Klompen H, Dobson SJ & Barker SC 2002.  A new subfamily, Bothriocrotoninae n. subfam., for the genus Bothriocroton Kerians, King & Sharrad, 1994 status amend. (Ixodida: Ixodidae), and the synonymy of Aponomma Neumann, 1899 with Amblyomma Koch, 1844.  Systematic Parasitology, 53: 101-107.

Roberts FHS 1970.  Australian Ticks.  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melborne.  267 pp.

Walker AR, Bouattour A, Camicas JL, Estrada-Pena AA, Horak IG, Litif AA, Pegram RG & PM Preston 2007.  Ticks of domestic animals in Africa.  Bioscience Reports, Edinburgh.  University of Edinbrugh.