Journal of Veterinary Parasitology

Surface ultra structure of both male and female Amblyomma gervaisi infesting snakes were studied by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Sexual dimorphisms of the ticks seen under SEM were compared with morphological features seen using stereo zoom and dissection microscope. SEM observations showed characteristic structures on the hypostome and conscutum in male, scutum, cervical groove, porous region, idiosoma zone, Haller's organ, spur on the base of the first coxa, pulvillus attached claw, genital organ in female and anal plates, spiracle and festoons in male and female. Numerous punctuations were uniformly distributed all over the scutal surface. The dental formula on the hypostome was 3/3. Hypostome was longer than the mandible in male and shorter in female. Palp length was longer than the mandible of male, while it was shorter in female. The male genital orifice was oval in shape with hairless bulging aperture, while the female had concave circular genital plate with eccentric slit. Anal plate was circular in shape with prominent margination at posterior end in both male and female A. gervaisi.