Amblyomma testudinarium Koch, 1844

Petney, Trevor N., Boulanger, Nathalie, Saijuntha, Weerachai, Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia, Pfeffer, Martin, Eamudomkarn, Chatanun, Andrews, Ross H., Ahamad, Mariana, Putthasorn, Noppadon, Muders, Senta V., Petney, David A. & Robbins, Richard G., 2019, Ticks (Argasidae, Ixodidae) and tick-borne diseases of continental Southeast Asia, Zootaxa 4558 (1), pp. 1-89 : 17-18

Amblyomma testudinarium Koch, 1844

Amblyomma testudinarium is a common species with a broad host range, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. It has been reported from the Australasian, Oriental and Palearctic Regions in dry broadleaf forests ( Petney and Keirans 1995; Guglielmone et al. 2014). In continental Southeast Asia it has been recorded from Cambodia, Lao PDR, peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam ( Kohls 1957; Hoogstraal et al. 1972b; Kolonin 1992; Petney and Keirans 1995). It has a very broad host spectrum, with adults commonly attached to large mammals, including wild pigs, which appear to be the most important hosts, as well as other wild ungulates and domestic stock. Additional hosts include carnivores, pangolins, tortoises, monitor lizards and pythons ( Hoogstraal et al. 1972b; Petney and Keirans 1995; Grassman et al. 2004). Immatures have been reported from a variety of reptiles, birds and predominantly small to medium-sized mammals, and there is a report from a narrowmouthed frog ( Microhylidae ) ( Kolonin 2009; Guglielmone et al. 2014).

There are numerous records of human infestation ( Audy et al. 1960; Yamaguti et al. 1971; Hoogstraal et al. 1972b; Yamada et al. 1996; Isohisa et al. 2011; Yamauchi et al. 2012; Kim et al. 2014). Nakao et al. (2017) report two cases of A. testudinarium in the external auditory canal.

Fujisaki et a1. (1976) provide data on a laboratory colony of this species. Chao et al. (2017) provide information on the morphological and molecular identification of this species.

The male, female, nymph and larva are described in Voltzit and Keirans (2002).