Argasidae

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.

Argasidae Temporal range: Cretaceous–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
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
Antricola Argas Nothoaspis Ornithodoros Otobius

Physical characteristics

Soft ticks lack the hard scutum present in the hard ticks (Ixodidae).^[3] The gnathosoma (or capitulum, the mouthparts-bearing structure) is located on the underside of the animal's body and is not readily visible,^[3] while in the Ixodidae, the gnathosoma projects forward from the body. The lateral edges of the body are rounded.

See also

• Ticks of domestic animals