First records of the hard tick Amblyomma testudinarium Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodiae) and larval trombiculid mite Eutrombicula wichmanni (Oudemans, 1905) (Acari: Trombiculidae) parasitizing Sword-tail newt Cynops ensicauda (Hallowell, 1860) (Urodela: Salamandridae) in Japan

ABSTRACT

Little is known about ectoparasites parasitizing the amphibian fauna. This study identified and collected one nymphal hard tick Amblyomma testudinarium Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) and two larval trombiculid mites, Eutrombicula wichmanni (Oudemans, 1905), from a live Sword-tail newt specimen Cynops ensicauda (Hallowell, 1860) on Tokashiki Island, Tokashiki Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The infestation was documented using photomicrography; therefore, this study confirmed that these parasites also affect amphibian fauna. This is the first record of A. testudinarium and E. wichmanni parasitizing C. ensicauda.

KEYWORDS:

• Amblyomma testudinarium
• trombiculid mites
• Eutrombicula wichmanni
• newt
• Cynops ensicauda

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