R. cuspidatVLS falls into the subgenus Rhipicephalus (sensu 

 stric'Eu ) of Zumpt (1950A) and not in Rhipicephalus in which he 

 placed the species attributed by him to this name. 



IDENTIFICATION 



Males are readily recognized by the unique interno posterior 

 curved or straight, pointed projection of the adanal shields, 

 which reach to the festoons. (Slight variations in these projec- 

 tions ■ have been illustrated by Tendeiro 1951E) . The width of the 

 adanal shields, which is almost half as great (at the posterior 

 two-thirds) as the total length, is also distinctive as is the 

 broadly triangular shape of the anterior two- thirds, the acutely 

 rounded and posteriorly sloping posterior margin, and the concave 

 emargination of the posterior half of the inner border. Accessory 

 shields are absent. Dorsally, a small rounded (not pointed) dorsal 

 projection of coxa I is visible. The scutum is remarkably flat 

 and broad , threei-fourths as wide as its lengt'E'from scapulaie to 

 posterior margin; its surface is smooth except for twelve to 

 twenty widely scattered, large, deep punctations, six or eight 

 small, deep ones, and two short, posterior rows of three or four 

 adjacent, large, and deep punctations. Many specimens have one, 

 two or three mild longitudinal depressions at one place or another 

 on the scutal surface; these are obviously due to injvtry, crowding, 

 malnutrition, or molting conditions. The deep lateral grooves, 

 which are marked by a row of large, adjacent punctations, begin 

 at the first festoon and extend to the level of coxa III; thence 

 they continue anteriorly as a ciirved row of four equidistantly 

 spaced, large, deep punctations. The very deep cervical grooves 

 are parallel or slightly convergent and short, reaching only the 

 level of trochanter II. The impunctate basis capit\ali is three 

 times as wide at its anterior third as its totgil width. Unfed 

 specimens are reddish brown, engorged individuals are an intense 

 black with reddish- brown legs. Overall length varies from 3.50 

 mm. to 4.90 mm.; width from 1.98 mm. to 2.54 nm. 



Females unengorged average 4. 40 mm. in overall length and 

 2.70 ram. in width; our largest engorged specimen is 11.00 mm. 

 long and 6.30 mm. wide. The scutum is distinctly wider than long; 

 lateral margins diverge gradually to the midlength of the scutum 

 from whence they rather abruptly converge as a straight or slightly 



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