Ixodes microgalei
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| Ixodes microgalei | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Ixodida |
| Family: | Ixodidae |
| Genus: | Ixodes |
| Species: | I. microgalei |
| Binomial name | |
| Ixodes microgalei Apanaskevich, Soarimalala & Goodman, 2013 | |
Ixodes microgalei is a species of Ixodes that was discovered in the humid eastern forests of the Antananarivo Province in Madagascar.[1] Females of this species parasitize various species of shrew tenrecs of the genus Microgale (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae, Oryzorictinae). All members of the genus Microgale, as well as of the larger subfamily to which that genus belongs, are endemic to Madagascar.[2]
The external morphology of females of the species I. microgalei closely resemble that of females of the species Ixodes colasbelcouri and Ixodes nesomys. All 3 species have long, narrow, tapering auriculae (lateral protrusions found on the ventral surface of their basis capituli, an apical region that is formed by the basal portions of their 2 pedipalps) and several unique structure on their coxae (the most basal of the several segments that constitute each of their legs), including internal spurs on their first pair of coxae (coxae I); small but distinct external spurs on their first pair of coxae (coxae I); and syncoxae (posterior regions that have a lighter color or texture) on their first, second, and third pairs of coxae (coxae I-III). However, females of the species I. microgalei are easily distinguishable from females of the species I. colasbelcouri thanks to their possession of distinctly shorter spurs on their fourth pair of coxae (coxae IV) and from female I. nesomys thanks to the notably longer spurs that they possess on their first pair of (coxae I); the larger areas of syncoxae that they possess on their first, second, and third pairs of coxae (coxae I-III); and the larger and deeper punctations that they possess on their scutum (the inflexible shells that cover much of the posterior surface of their bodies).