An instance of Boiga dendrophila dendrophila (Boie, 1827) (Reptilia: Colubridae) being parasitized by Amblyomma helvolum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), with comments about the attachment sites of this tick species

Abstract

Ectoparasites, such as ticks, may exhibit preferences for particular attachment sites on various hosts, since the choice of attachment sites may affect tick survival. Herein we report an instance of a mangrove snake, Boiga dendrophila dendrophila, being parasitized by the tick Amblyomma helvolum, with comments on this tick’s attachment sites. Our collection of A. helvolum appears to be the first record of this species from Sandakan, a city on the northeast coast of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah.

New host records of the reptile tick Amblyomma helvolum Koch (Ixodida: Ixodidae: Amblyomminae) in Taiwan

“…Amblyomma helvolum is a polyxenous bont tick primarily associated with squamates, particularly snakes, skinks, and varanid lizards. Many reptile species have been reported as hosts of A. helvolum , including representatives of the genera Boiga (Mao et al 2019), Bungarus (Ghosh et al 2021), Carlia (Oda et al 2022), Coelognathus (Sharif 1928; Audy et al 1960; Tanskul et al 1973; Oda et al 2022), Dasia (Auffenberg 1988), Dendrelaphis (Keirans 1984), Elaphe (Chao et al 2013), Eryx (Ghosh et al 2021), Eutropis (Krijgsman & Ponto 1931; Kohls 1950; Audy et al 1960; Kho et al 2019), Fowlea (Sumrandee et al 2014a, b; Sumrandee et al 2015; Kaenkan et al 2020), Gonocephalus (Auffenberg 1988), Gonyosoma (Keirans 1984), Hydrosaurus (Kohls 1950), Lycodon (Tabug & Necesito 2021), Malayopython (Neumann 1901; Schulze 1933; Kohls 1950; Audy et al 1960; Hoogstraal et al 1968; Tansku et al 1983; Kim 2020), Naja (Anastos 1950; Kohls 1957; Audy et al 1960; Kho et al 2015; Ghosh et al 2021), Ophiophagus (Warburton 1926), Otosaurus (Auffenberg 1988), Ptyas (Audy et al 1960; Lazell et al 1991; Sumrandee et al 2014a, b; Sumrandee et al 2015; Kaenkan et al 2020), Python (Sumrandee et al 2014a,b; Sumrandee et al 2015; Ghosh et al 2021), Rhabdophis (Audy et al 1960), Tropidophorus (Auffenberg 1988), Varanus (Neumann 1910; Sharif 1928; Schulze 1933; Kohls 1950; Audy et al 1960; Parrish 1971; Tanskul et al 1983; Keirans 1984; Auffenberg 1988; King & Green 1999; Pianka et al 2004; Kaenkan et al 2020), and Xenochropis (Audy et al 1960) . In addition, A. helvolum has been reported from the freshwater turtle genus Heosemys (family Geoemydidae) (<...…”