Ixodes anatis
Ixodes anatis, also called the kiwi tick, is a species of tick in the arthropod family Ixodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and mainly parasitizes kiwi.
Taxonomy
Ixodes anatis Chilton, also called the kiwi tick, is a species of tick endemic to New Zealand.
The species was originally described by Charles Chilton in 1904. It was given the name anatis because the first specimens were collected from a grey duck. 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 and the tokoeka. 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 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 an improved conservation status.