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

Ali, Abid, Almutairi, Mashal M., Robbins, Richard G., Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia & Ullah, Shafi, 2025, Updated checklist, morphological descriptions, hosts and vector potential of ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in Pakistan, Zootaxa 5725 (2), pp. 151-202 : 166

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.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Amblyomma pakhtunensis A: male dorsum (I: cervical groove, II: first lateral festoon); B: male venter (I: external spur of coxa I, II: internal spur of coxa II, III: internal spur of coxa IV); C: male dorsum (I: cornua); D: male venter (I: capitulum, II: genital aperture); E: female dorsum (I: cervical groove, II: scutum); F: female venter (I: external spur of coxa I); G: female dorsum (I: capitulum); H: female venter (I: capitulum, II: genital aperture).