Archaeocroton sphenodonti, or the tuatara tick, is a species of tick that parasitises only the tuatara of New Zealand. It is found on just four of the twelve island groups where tuatara survive, preferring islands where the reptiles live in high densities. Larvae, nymphs, and adults all feed exclusively on tuatara blood, and ticks can survive for up to a year without a host. When tuatara are translocated, the tick has been lost or survives only in low densities in the new population. It is the only living species in the genus Archaeocroton.
^"Archaeocroton sphenodonti. NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
^"NZOR". New Zealand Organisms Register. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
Archaeocroton sphenodonti, or the tuatara tick, is a species of tick that parasitises only the tuatara of New Zealand. It is found on just four of the...
species (includes some of Aponomma) Anomalohimalaya – three species Archaeocroton – one species Bothriocroton – seven species Cosmiomma – one species...
living ixodid genera Amblyomma, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Bothriocroton and Archaeocroton dating the earliest Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous, around...
high rodent populations. Tuataras are parasitised by the tuatara tick (Archaeocroton sphenodonti), a tick that directly depends on tuataras. These ticks...
extinct Guadalupe caracara (Caracara lutosa), Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Archaeocroton sphenodoni, parasite of the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), New Zealand...
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images Archaeocroton kaufmani Sp. nov Valid Chitimia-Dobler, Mans & Dunlop in Chitimia-Dobler...
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