Robertsicus
| Robertsicus | |
|---|---|
| Female Robertsicus elaphensis. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Ixodida |
| Family: | Ixodidae |
| Genus: | Robertsicus Barker & Burger, 2018 |
| Species: | R. elaphensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Robertsicus elaphensis (Price, 1958)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Aponomma elaphense Price, 1958 | |
Robertsicus elaphensis, or the tail-eating tick, is a species of tick. It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico and southeastern United States including parts of Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, corresponding to the habitat of its sole host, the Trans-Pecos rat-snake (Bogertophis subocularis). It is the only reptile tick native to the United States, and is the only member of the Robertsicus genus.