First record in Japan of tortoise tick Amblyomma Geoemydae (Cantor 1847) (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing Pryer’s keelback snake Hebius Pryeri (Boulenger, 1887) (Reptile: Colubridae)

ABSTRACT

Two larvae of tortoise tick Amblyomma geoemydae (Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from the fresh remains of a Pryer’s keelback snake Hebius pryeri (Boulenger, 1887), likely dead from accidental causes at the Kunigami-son in northern Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. This is the first such host record for A. geoemydae in Japan. Based on this finding, we have updated the available collection records of ticks found on Japanese snakes.

KEYWORDS:

• Amblyomma geoemydae
• tick
• Pryer’s keelback snake
• Hebius pryeri
• reptile
• Japan