Dermacentor circumguttatus explained

Dermacentor circumguttatus is a species of hard tick belonging to the family Ixodidae.^[1]

Description

D. circumguttatus can reach a length of 3mm5mm. Ornamentation of males consists of eight pale spots near the periphery of the scutum. Festoons and central areas are inornate. In the females, the colour pattern is limited to three patches, one posteriorly and one anterolaterally on each side.^[2]

This African species has been found only on elephants and on the grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia).^[3] The main hosts of these hard ticks are the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).^[4]

Notes and References

1. http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/tick_inf.htm Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants, Bears, Lagomorphs, Ferrets and Cranes) Discover life
2. Book: Don R. Arthur . 1960 . Ticks . 5 . The genera Dermacentor, Anocentor, Cosmiomma, Boophilus, Margaropus . . The genus Dermacentor: 1. General . 6–37 . https://books.google.com/books?id=k688AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA6.
3. http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/tick_inf.htm Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants, Bears, Lagomorphs, Ferrets and Cranes)
4. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id1056514/ Biolib