Argasidae Temporal range:
| |
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Otobius megnini | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Ixodida |
Superfamily: | Ixodoidea |
Family: | Argasidae C. L. Koch, 1844 |
Genera | |
The Argasidae are the family of soft ticks, one of the three families of ticks. The family contains 193 species, although the composition of the genera is less certain, and more study is needed before the genera can become stable.[1] The currently accepted genera are Antricola, Argas, Nothoaspis, Ornithodoros, and Otobius.[1] The Argasidae are very common in South Asia, along with 96 other species of ticks, making South Asia the region with the highest biodiversity of ticks worldwide.[2] Soft ticks are resistant to desiccation and can live for several years in arid conditions.