The Geographical Distribution of Reptile Ticks in Western Australia.

Abstract

In a study of ticks parasitizing reptiles in the western half of Australia, eight species, including two undescribed ticks, were identified. The data confirm that three species, Amblyomma albolimbatum, Amb. limbatum and Aponomma hydrosauri, have distributions which abut with very little overlap (i.e. they are parapatric). Ap, fimbriatum is sympatric with Amb. albolimbatum and Ap. hydrosauri. The other ticks identified, Aponomma sp. nov., Amblyomma sp. nov., Amb. calabyi and Ornithodoros gurneyi, were not found in sufficient numbers to allow detailed descriptions of their distributions. Data are also presented on the hosts of the ticks and on the occurrence of ticks on islands off the Western Australian coast.