Kingdom Animalia Class Arachnida Order Ixodida Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Subclass Acari Family Ixodidae | |
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Similar Amblyomma, Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma, Rickettsia africae, Rhipicephalus | ||
Ticks on bess amblyomma variegatum
Amblyomma variegatum, commonly known as the tropical bont tick, is a species of tick of the genus Amblyomma endemic to Africa. It has spread from its centre of origin to several countries, including the Caribbean islands, where it is known as the Senegalese tick (due to the suspected introduction of the tick from cattle imports from that country) and the Antigua gold tick. They are vividly coloured (especially the males) and have a substantial impact on livestock, primarily through their transmission of diseases. They are three-host hard ticks (where each life stage completes a blood meal on a particular host before dropping-off and ecdysis) have been found on a variety of domesticated species such camels, cattle, goats, sheep, dogs, and various species of wildlife.