Hyalomma is a genus of hard-bodied common in Asia, Europe, and North Africa. They are also found in Southern Africa. The name is derived from Greek language: Hyalos (ὕαλος) crystal, glass; and omma (oμμα) eye. The genus is believed to have originated in Iran or Central Asia, and then spread further into Asia, including the Middle East, and to southern Europe and Africa.
Description
Hyalomma are large ticks, with a dark scutum, distinct festoons and eyes. The genus is sometimes referred to as 'bont-legged ticks' due to the presence of light-colored bands on the legs; not to be confused with
Amblyomma, which are called 'bont ticks'.
Hyalomma species are often difficult to identify due to their hybridization and genetic and morphological variations, caused by harsh environmental conditions and lack of food sources. With few hosts available, they are required to be active as soon as a potential host is sensed.
Parasitism
Adult
Hyalomma can bite humans and transmit serious pathogens. Immature (nymph)
Hyalomma usually feed on birds, rodents, and hares and can be the cause of viral disease and
. Nymphs are often transmitted from one place to another by migrating birds. For example, a migrating bird carrying a
Hyalomma marginatum nymph can cause Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
species can also transmit
like Siberian tick typhus, Boutonneuse fever, and
Q fever.
Taxonomy
Hyalomma form part of the Rhipicephalinae subfamily, in the broader Amblyocephalus clade of the
Ixodidae.
Species
As of 2025, there are 28 species described as
Hyalomma:
-
Hyalomma aegyptium Linnaeus, 1758
-
Hyalomma albiparmatum Schulze, 1919
-
Hyalomma anatolicum Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma arabica Pegram, Hoogstraal & Wassef, 1982
-
Hyalomma asiaticum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929
-
Hyalomma brevipunctatum Sharif, 1928
-
Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma erythraeum Tonelli-Rondelli, 1932
-
Hyalomma excavatum Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma franchinii Tonelli-Rondelli, 1932
-
Hyalomma glabrum Delpy, 1949
-
Hyalomma hussaini Sharif, 1928
-
Hyalomma hystricis Dhanda & Raja, 1974
-
Hyalomma impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke, 1930
-
Hyalomma impressum Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma isaaci Sharif, 1928
-
Hyalomma kumari Sharif, 1928
-
Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma nitidum Schulze, 1919
-
Hyalomma punt Hoogstraal, Kaiser & Pedersen, 1969
-
Hyalomma rhipicephaloides Neumann, 1901
-
Hyalomma rufipes Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma schulzei Olenev, 1931
-
Hyalomma scupense Schulze, 1919
-
Hyalomma somalicum Tonelli-Rondelli, 1935
-
Hyalomma truncatum Koch, 1844
-
Hyalomma turanicum Pomerantsev, 1946
Notes
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