Scutum wider (approximately 1.6 times
as long as wide); punctations few to
moderate, medium to large, shallow,
nondiscrete; size smaller, length
from 1.3 mm. to 2.2 mm., width from
0.8 mm. to 1.2 mm. Basis capituli
laterally widely diverging, cornua
usually short and wide. Palpal lat
eral margins usually concave. Coxae
with a small but definite spur. Tarsi
usually short, may be more or less
humped and abruptly tapering. (Com
mon on small carnivores; rare on
antelopes)....
H. LEACHII MUHSAMI
Figures 150 and 151
1. Palpal segment 3 with basal margin strongly angled or spurred dorsally. Scutal width and length approximately equal. (Equatoria and Bahr El Ghazal; uncommon)..
Palpal segment 3 with basal margin
dorsally forming a straight line
with no spur or angle..
2. Palpal segment 3 dorsally with basal
margin sharply angled. Basis capi
tuli with strong cornua. Scutal
length and width equal or very slight-
ly longer than wide. Coxa I with inner
basal angle produced to a small spur...
Palpal segment 3 dorsally with a retrograde spur. Basis capituli with small cornua. Scutum wider than long. Coxa I with small spur overlapping outer basal margin; no inner basal spur..
H. ACICULIFER Figures 130 and 131
3. Palpal basal margin straight dorsally, without angle or spur. Basis capituli almost straight laterally, cornua almost obsolete. Scutal length and width approx imately equal. (Avian parasite).
Palpal basal margin angled or spurred dorsally. Basis capituli diverging laterally, cornua moderate to strong. (Mammal parasites)...
4. Palpi ventrally with a comparatively
long, narrow spur basally, margin
dorsally sharply pointed sublaterally;
segment 3 ventrally with narrow elon
gate, pointed spur. Coxae each with a
strong spur and a few, short hairs;
trochanter I ventrally with a strong
spurlike ridge (that does not overlap
trochantal margin); tarsi abruptly
tapering, short, stout, somewhat humped,
claw and tarsal length approximately
equal. Scutum only slightly longer
than wide, broadly rounded posteriorly;
punctations few, shallow, mostly ante-
rior. (Ground squirrel parasite).
Combinations of characters differ as below. (Not normally ground squirrel parasites)...
H. HOODI HOODI Figures 138 and 139
..H. HOUYI Figures 142 and 143
5. Coxae without overlapping spurs.
Palpi without basal spur dorsally
or ventrally; basal margin acutely
angled sublaterally; segment 3
ventrally with very short, broad spur.
Basis capituli with small cornua.
Scutal length and width approximately
equal but outline abruptly converging
posteriorly; punctations scattered,
shallow, moderate numbers of varying
size. Tarsi tapering distally.
(Hyrax parasite; rare).
Coxae with an overlapping spur on at
least two pairs. Palpi usually with
a definite basal spur dorsally or
ventrally or both; segment 3 ventrally
with an elongate, pointed, narrow ret-
rograde spur; lateral outline straight
or slightly curved; less commonly con
cave. Basis capituli with strong cornuá.
(Common carnivore parasites; seldom on
other animals)...
6. Scutum elongate, 1.25 longer than wide,
gradually narrowing posteriorly; punc-
tations comparatively small, numerous,
discrete. Palpal spurs usually all
large and definite, lateral margins
straight or slightly curved. Tarsi
elongate and tapering. (Commonly
from canines)...
..H. BEQUAERTI Figures 134 and 135
.H. LEACHII LEACHII Figures 146, 147, and 149
Scutum shorter, length and width approx-
imately equal, broadly rounded posterior-
ly; punctations comparatively moderate in
size and numbers, shallow. Palpal basal
spurs frequently reduced, lateral margins
more or less concave. Tarsi short, usual
ly abruptly tapered, sometimes humped.
(Usually from smaller carnivores, sometimes
on larger carnivores and ruminants; not
common on canines)...
...H. LEACHII MUHSAMI Figures 152 and 153
Figures 128 and 129, &, dorsal and ventral views Figures 130 and 131, 2, dorsal and ventral views
HAEMAPHYSALIS ACICULIFER Warburton, 1913.
THE SHARP SPURRED HADMAPHYSALID
EQUATORIA PROVINCE RECORDS
Lotti Forest Praomys tullbergi sudanensis Apr
Lemniscomys striatus massaicus Dec
Ourebia ourebi aequatoria
Lotti Forest is at 4500 feet elevation and Nagichot is at 6500 feet elevation. Weber's (1948) report is the only previous one of this species from the Sudan.
DISTRIBUTION IN THE SUDAN
Bahr El Ghazal: All from tiang, Damaliscus korrigum tiang, 1953. H 10, 200, 15 miles north of Tonj, March, E. T. M. Reid legit (with adults of Amblyomma variegatum). 408, 709, Galual Nyang Forest, July, N. A. Hancock legit. Material in HH collection.
H. aciculifer ranges across Africa in scattered highlands and forests from Bahr El Ghazal Province south to Mozambique. It has been transported on cattle to the Union of South Africa, where it has become established locally (Theiler 1945C).
WEST AFRICA: NIGERIA (Unsworth 1949,1952. Gambles 1951). GOLD COAST (Simpson 1914. Nuttall and Warburton 1915).
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