Amblyomma pakhtunensis Ali, Khan, Chitimia–Dobler and Mans, 2024

Distribution

This recently described species has been reported infesting Indian monitor lizards in Bajaur District (Ali et al. 2024b).

Morphological characters

Male (Fig. 12, A–D): Body approximately 4.49± 0.2 mm long and 3.20± 0.1 mm wide; conscutum inornate, broadly oval and pyriform, punctations small and sparsely distributed, confined to posterior and lateral regions, cervical grooves deep, short and comma-shaped, eleven festoons, first festoon clearly defined; eyes indistinct, located laterally; basis capituli subrectangular, dorsal surface smooth and lacking punctations, cornua absent; hypostome clavate, denticles arranged in overlapping rows, corona distinct, dental formula 3/3, with small teeth; palpal segments 1 and 2 fused, palps slightly longer than hypostome; coxa I with two broad, blunt, widely separated spurs, subequal in length, external spur larger than internal spur, coxae II and III each with short, blunt spur, coxa IV with narrow spur; legs stout, tarsi with sharply pointed, curved claws; genital aperture at level of coxae II, genital aperture ovoid to circular, lacking setae; spiracular plates situated ventrolaterally behind coxae IV, spiracular plate oval, with tapering dorsal prolongation.

Female (Fig. 12, E–H): Body approximately 4.50± 0.2 mm long and 2.90± 0.1 mm wide; scutum subcordate, wider anteriorly, tapering toward posterior margins, cervical grooves deep, short, and inverted comma shaped, scutum covering one-third of body, with small punctations; basis capituli subrectangular, dorsal surface of basis with suboval porose areas; palpal segments 1 and 2 fused; festoons as in male; posterior lip of genital aperture broadly U-shaped, situated slightly posterior to level of coxae II; hypostome long, dental formula 3/3; coxal spurs similar to those of male, spur of coxa IV slightly longer than those of coxae II and III; genital aperture situated between coxae II, posterior lip of genital aperture U-shaped; spiracular plate oval, with tapering dorsal prolongation.