Ticks, Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: ixodidae), on toads, Chaunus schneideri and Chaunus granulosus (Anura: bufonidae), in northern Argentina.
This communication provides notes on 2 species of toads, Chaunus schneideri and Chaunus granulosus, infested with ixodid ticks, Amblyomma rotundatum, from the provinces of Corrientes and Formosa in northern Argentina. Chaunus schneideri is a new amphibian host record for A. rotundatum, a species previously reported to parasitize other anurans and also reptiles. We examined 74 ticks on 5 toads. All ticks were A. rotundatum; all adults were females, and all developmental stages were randomly attached to host body parts. Ticks remained attached to one of the toads for from 7 to 17 days after the host was captured. One toad, encumbered with 33 ticks, was moribund when found and died shortly thereafter.
Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. bobsmith@cals.arizona.edu
Robert L
RL
Smith
Juan A
JA
Schnack
Eduardo F
EF
Schaefer
Arturo I
AI
Kehr
D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000662:veterinary; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*