''Ixodes anatis,'' also called the kiwi tick, is a species of

tick Ticks (order Ixodida) are parasitic arachnids that are part of the mite superorder Parasitiformes. Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external parasites, living by ...

in the

arthropod Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...

family

Ixodidae The Ixodidae are the family of hard ticks or scale ticks, one of the three families of ticks, consisting of over 700 species. They are known as 'hard ticks' because they have a scutum or hard shield, which the other major family of ticks, the 'sof ...

. It is endemic to New Zealand and mainly parasitizes

kiwi Kiwi most commonly refers to: * Kiwi (bird), a flightless bird native to New Zealand * Kiwi (nickname), a nickname for New Zealanders * Kiwifruit, an edible berry * Kiwi dollar or New Zealand dollar, a unit of currency Kiwi or KIWI may also refe ...

(family

Apterygidae Kiwi ( ) are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand of the order Apterygiformes. The five extant species fall into the family Apterygidae () and genus ''Apteryx'' (). Approximately the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest ...

Taxonomy

''Ixodes anatis'' Chilton (1904), also called the kiwi tick, is a species of

endemic to New Zealand.Heath, Allen C. G. (2010). A review of ectoparasites of ''Apteryx'' spp. (kiwi) in New Zealand, with new host records, and the biology of ''Ixodes anatis'' (Acari: Ixodidae). ''Tuhinga'' 21 The species was originally described by

Charles Chilton Charles Chilton MBE (15 June 1917 – 2 January 2013) was a British presenter, writer and producer who worked on BBC Radio. He created the 1950s radio serials ''Riders of the Range'' and ''Journey into Space'', and also inspired the stage ...

in 1904. The type specimens are housed at Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand (CMNZ). Since its original description, the morphology of ''I. anatis'' has only been partially described and characterized. All stages of the species were recently re-described and illustrated.

Hosts

''Ixodes anatis'' has a high host specificity and mainly parasitizes the North Island brown kiwi (''

Apteryx mantelli The North Island brown kiwi (''Apteryx mantelli''; ''Apteryx australis'' or ''Apteryx bulleri'' as before 2000, still used in some sources) is a species of kiwi that is widespread in the northern two-thirds of the North Island of New Zealand and ...

'') and the tokoeka (''

Apteryx australis The southern brown kiwi, tokoeka, or common kiwiDavies, S. J. J. F. (2003) (''Apteryx australis'') is a species of kiwi from South Island, New Zealand. Until 2000 it was considered conspecific with the North Island brown kiwi, and still is by ...

''). There are a handful of records that show it may have also been found on certain species of waterfowl. It is considered to be an endophilous and nidicolous species, which means it lives within the burrows and nests of its host, the kiwi.

Conservation status

''Ixodes anatis'' is currently listed as "Not Threatened" in "Conservation status of parasitic mites and ticks (Acari) in New Zealand, 2021". Although it was previously considered to be Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable, and although its bird hosts are threatened, a better understanding of its populations has led to the improved conservation status.

References

Animals described in 1904 anatis Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endemic acari of New Zealand {{Parasitic animal-stub