Ixodes holocyclus (Australian Paralysis Tick)

Ixodes holocyclus, commonly known as the Australian Paralysis Tick and the Eastern Paralysis Tick. The majority of Ixodes holocyclu observations (on Atlas of Living Australia, 29 December 2024), are found along the eastern coast of Australia, from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (with a rare observation in Western Australia).²

Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus), Wandella NSW © Deb Taylor — Australian Paralysis Tick (*Ixodes holocyclus*), Wandella NSW © Deb Taylor

The Paralysis Tick (Ixodes Hylocyclus) is considered as one of the most dangerous of the tick parasites that can affect both humans and your pets. The female paralysis ticks can transmit a neurotoxin to their host while feeding, causing paralysis. Antitoxin is required to neutralise the toxin and symptoms.

The Paralysis ticks occur in a variety of habitat, from areas of high rainfall (such as wet sclerophyll forest and temperate rainforest), grassland and coastal regions. The Paralysis tick native host animals include bandicoots, koalas, kangaroos and possums.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Informal: Acari
Order: Ixodida
Superfamily: Ixodoidea
Family: Ixodidae
Genus: Ixodes
Species Ixodes holocyclus

Footnote & References

Ixodes holocyclus Neumann, 1899, Australian Paralysis Tick, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Ixodes holocyclus
Ticks, Department of Health (WA Health), Government of Western Australia, https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Ticks

FaunaFauna Index Arachnida (Arachnids) Bats (Chiroptera) Birds Camel Chilopoda Crustacea Dingo Frogs Gastropoda Horse Hyrtl’s Catfish Insects Macropodidae Mammalia Marsupials Monotreme Reptiles Rodentia Class Mammalia Spiders Spinifex Hopping Mouse Ticks