Extremely few ticks of any genus attack primates as hosts of predilection (Hoogstraal 1953E). Ixodes schillingsi appears to be one of these few. Monkeys, lemurs, and other primates usually groom themselves and each other so meticulously that external parasites have little chance of surviving on them. Certain exceptions should, however, be noted. When wishing to examine baboons for ectoparasites, one should choose large, lone males who wander separate from the group. Individual baboon hobos have yielded as many as 350 ticks (Rhipicephalus simus simus) while others living in groups in the same areas have been free of ticks or have been infested by only one or two specimens. The striking rarity with which one observes easilyvisible groups of Colobus monkeys grooming each other immediately suggests that because this practice is so infrequently indulged, I. schillingsi has managed to survive on this genus of monkeys but not among others. REMARKS The close relation of Ixodes schillingsi to Ixodes lunatus Neumann, 1907, a Madagascan parasite of rodents that also infests insectivores (Hoogstraal 1953E), has been described by Colas Belcour and Grenier (1942) who consider that these two ticks might be regarded as related subspecies. The features of the haller's organ of I. schillingsi are listed in a table by Arthur (1956B). IDENTIFICATION Males are easily recognized among the African Ixodes fauna by the following characters: Anal grooves racket shaped (anteriorly slightly wider than "horseshoe shaped"), not closed. Legs normal length, but fourth pair comparatively long, coxae with first three pairs bearing a small internal spur posteriorly, coxa IV with a small external spur. Scutum with one lateral fold, convex, with many large, subequal punctations. Basis capituli with a sharp, pointed posteromedian spur ventrally. Measures about 2.3 mm. long and 1.4 mm. wide. Females have elliptical, open anal grooves. Coxa I has a concave posterior border prolonged internally to a long spine and externally to a shorter spine. The scutum is longer than broad, broadest at anterior third; it lacks lateral grooves, has numerous deep, uniform punctations, and its cervical grooves diverge from the anterior third and are deeper posteriorly than they are anteriorly. The basis capituli ventrally has pointed, retrograde spurs (auriculae). Total length of gorged specimens may reach 7.0 mm. The nymph has been described and figured by Nuttall and Warburton (1911). The larva is described by Arthur (ms.), who also redescribes the nymph and both sexes of adults. Katire is at 3500 feet elevation in the Imatong Mountains. The tick noted above was sent for identification after having been removed at Chicago Natural History Museum from a host collected by Mr. John Owen. This is the only record of this species from the Sudan. DISTRIBUTION The subspecies simplex has a wide distribution throughout the warmer parts of the Old World. In Africa, it is thus far known only from the Sudan, Kenya where the only other subspecies, africanus Arthur, 1956 (A), also occurs 7, and the Union of South Africa. Elsewhere, it is found in the Near East, southern Europe, and Asia from Shanghai to Japan. A larger, closely related South African form has been noted by Arthur (1956A) as Ixodes sp. incertae. CENTRAL AFRICA: Africa BELGIAN CONGO. The subspecies mentioned by Bequaert (19308,1931) is not now certain. Records from French Equatorial Africa (Neumann 1906,1911, and Nuttall and Warburton 1911), refer actually to material from Kashmir or a neighboring country in southern Asia; cf. Arthur (1956A).7 EAST AFRICA: SUDAN (As I. simplex: I. simplex simplex: KENYA Arthur 1956A. Note: I. simplex was listed by Love_ ridge (1936) from Kenya; his specimens, from Mt. Elgon, are not available for subspecies determination. Material from the crater of Mt. Menengai (HH legit) recently has been described by Arthur (1956A) as I. simplex africanus 7. SOUTHERN AFRICA: UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA Arthur (1956A). Note: According to Bedford (1932B), the record of I. pilosus howardi from a bat, reported by Howard (1908), may be 1. simplex, but the material is not now available and the subspecies or spe cies cannot be determined. The specimens referred to as I. simplex by Zumpt (1950B) have not been reexamined. A closely related species or subspecies, of uncertain taxonomic status, is noted by Arthur (1956A) from the Irene caves near Pretoria_7. 2NORTH AFRICA: Specimen with this designation noted by Arthur (1956A). PALESTINE (Arthur 1956A). Near East Europe GREECE (Schulze 1937B. Pandazis 1947. Arthur 1956A). FRANCE (Arthur 1956A). Asia "KASHMIR OR A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY" Type locality according to Arthur (1956A) 7. CHINA (Neumann 1906,1911. Arthur 1956A). JAPAN (Kishida 1930. Arthur 1956A). HOSTS Bats known to be hosts of I. simplex simplex or of "I. simplex" are those of the genus Rhinolophus, family Rhinolophidae, the horseshoe bats; Miniopterus, long-fingered bats (all previously unreported); and Myotis, mouse-eared bats. Both latter genera are in the family Vespertilionidae and both families are in the suborder Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats). |