e- 



Extremely few ticks of any genus attack primates as hosts of 

 predilection (Hoogstraal 1953E). Ixodes schiUingsi 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 (Rhipice. 

 phalus simus sims) while others living in groups in the same areas 

 have been free"or"ticks or have been infested by only one or two 

 specimens. The striking rarity with which one observes easily- 

 visible groups of Colobus monkeys grooming each other immedxately 

 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 (19^2) who consider that these two ticks might 

 be regarded as related subspecies. The features of the haller«s 

 organ of I. schillingsi are Usted in a table by Arthur (1956B;. 



IDOTTIFICATKai 



Males are easily recognized among the African Ixodes fauna 

 by th'eToIlowing characters : Anal grooves racket- shaped (ante- 

 riorly 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 posterior- 

 ly, coxa IV with a small external spur. Scutum with one lateral 

 fold, convex, with many large, subequel punctations. Basis 

 capituli with a sharp, pointed posteromedian spur ventrally. 

 Measures about 2.3 mm. long and l.U mm. wide. 



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