13. Coxa I with two robust posterior spurs widely but not deeply divided. Coxa I deeply divided... 14. Scutum with very short lateral Lateral grooves absent or very slightly 15. Scutum with lateral grooves absent or faintly indicated posteriorly; punc tations few, moderate size or fine; interstitials rare or obsolete; width lightly greater than length.. Scutum lacking lateral grooves; with field. Hyrax parasite. Other char ..R. CUSPIDATUS Figures 259 and 260 ...14 .R. TRICUSPIS Figures 319 and 320 ..15 .R. LONGICOXATUS Figures 275 and 276 .R. ?DISTINCTUS Figures 263 and 264 L6. Scutum with variable background of irregularly scattered fine to medium size punctations among which fewer larger punctations are more or less distinct; lateral grooves pronounced, long; outline distinctly longer than wide and with characteristically sinuous posterior margin... 17. Scutum with scattered punctations not Porose areas large, circular or sub... Porose areas small or moderate, inter- 18. Scutum lacking lateral grooves; punc tations dense but superficial, medium size with finer interstitials, rare laterally anterior of eyes and on scapulae; posterior margin typically gradually rounded. (Rare)... Scutal characters frequently modified .R. MÜHLENSI Figures 283 and 284 ..R. APPENDICULATUS Figures 243 and 244 Figures 240 and 241, o, dorsal and ventral views Figure 242, d, variation in adanal shields Figures 243 and 244, Q, dorsal and ventral views RHIPICEPHALUS APPENDICULATUS PLATE LXIX - 599 In the Sudan, R. appendiculatus is known only from Kajo Kaji and Yei on the west bank of Equatoria Province and from Katire (3500 feet elevation) and Ngangala (1700 feet elevation) on the east bank of Equatoria Province (Hoogstraal 19548). The engorged nymph removed at Torit from the leg of one of our party who had just come almost three hundred miles from Kajo Kaji is a good example of how an important tick species may easily be spread far from its present range by modern, fast, transporta tion. There appears to be little reason why R. appendiculatus should not be able to maintain itself east of the Nile in certain scattered areas of Torit District, though as yet it has been found only at Katire, which is cooler and more forested than are the plains. To the east and north of Torit District, conditions are most likely too arid for the brown tick. Most of the west bank of Equatoria Province is probably suitable for this tick. |