Arachnida (Arachnids) | Spiders | Spider Index | Ticks | Amblyomma triguttatum (Kangaroo Tick) | Ixodes holocyclus (Australian Paralysis Tick)

Ticks are parasites, that feed on animal and human blood. There are three main types of ticks: brown cattle, bush, and paralysis (and can be confusing to identify as they look similar). One of the key difference is that the paralysis ticks have all 6 legs protruding from behind its head area, whilst the others have legs spread from the head and along the abdomen area. There are about 75 species of Australian ticks.2

Kangaroo Tick (Amblyomma triguttatum), Springs WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Kangaroo Tick (Amblyomma triguttatum), Springs WA © Jean and Fred Hort

There are two families of ticks found in Australia, that include the “hard ticks” (family Ixodidae) and the “soft ticks” (family Argasidae). The most common of the hard ticks are frequently encountered in Western Australia, that include Kangaroo Ticks (Amblyomma triguttatum spp) and the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and can often be found on people. The soft ticks are commonly found as parasites on birds, horses and marsupials. One of the most common ticks found in the eastern region of Australia is Ixodes holocyclus, common name of Australian Paralysis Tick or Paralysis Tick, and is considered the most medically important, causing problems for humans and pets.2

Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus), Benandarah NSW © Phil Warburton
Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus), Benandarah NSW © Phil Warburton
Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus), Maloneys Beach NSW © Phil Warburton
Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus), Maloneys Beach NSW © Phil Warburton
Ixodidae (Tick), Smitt Road Mundaring WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Ixodidae (Tick), Smitt Road Mundaring WA © Jean and Fred Hort
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Chelicerata
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Informal: Acari
  • Order: Ixodida
  • Superfamily: Ixodoidea
  • Family: Argasidae
  • Genus:
    • Argas Latreille, 1795
    • Ornithodoros Koch, 1844
    • Otobius Banks, 1912
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Chelicerata
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Informal: Acari
  • Order: Ixodida
  • Family: Ixodidae
  • Genus:
    • Amblyomma Koch, 1844
    • Bothriocroton Keirans, King & Sharrad, 1994
    • Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844
    • Hyalomma Koch, 1844
    • Ixodes Latreille, 1795
    • Rhipicephalus Koch, 1844

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Phil Warburton
  2. Photographs © Jean and Fred Hort
  3. Ixodes holocyclus Neumann, 1899, Australian Paralysis Tick, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Ixodes holocyclus
  4. Ticks, Department of Health (WA Health), Government of Western Australia, https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Ticks

Arachnida (Arachnids) | Spiders | Spider Index | Ticks | Amblyomma triguttatum (Kangaroo Tick) | Ixodes holocyclus (Australian Paralysis Tick)

TicksAmblyomma triguttatum (Kangaroo Tick) Ixodes holocyclus (Australian Paralysis Tick)

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