title: The fossil record and the origin of ticks (Acari: Parasitiformes: Ixodida).
abstract: Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates. Hypotheses on the origin of ticks have been proposed based on tick-host associations and the total-evidence approach analysis of morphological and molecular characters. Nevertheless, the origin of ticks remains a controversial issue. Here, I revised the tick fossil record including reports from the literature and the description of 7 new specimens. The analysis of fossil ticks provides few clues to tick evolution but does not contradict recent hypotheses based on total-evidence approach analysis that place the origin of ticks in the Cretaceous (65-146 mya) with most of the evolution and dispersal occurring during the Tertiary (5-65 mya).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. jose_delafuente@yahoo.com
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
mesh_terms: D018647:Amber; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D008297:Male; D010163:Paleontology; D013987:Ticks
chemical_list: D018647:Amber