Nuttalliella

Nuttalliella namaqua
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Ixodida
Family:	Nuttalliellidae Schulze, 1935 [2]
Genus:	Nuttalliella Bedford, 1931
Species:	N. namaqua
Binomial name
Nuttalliella namaqua Bedford, 1931 [1]

Nuttalliella namaqua is a

The first description by G.A.H. Bedford in 1931 was based upon a single female collected under a stone at Kamieskroon, in Little Namaqualand, by Dr R.F. Lawrence in October 1930.^[7] The genus and family were named for the bacteriologist George Nuttall, a specialist in diseases transmitted by ticks. As of 1980, only eighteen specimens had been collected.^[6] In a 2011 study, that number was increased to fifty-one total specimens. They were collected in three locations in South Africa including two new sites: Springbok, Graaff-Reinet, and Heuningvleipan.^[6]

Distribution

Nuttalliella namaqua has been observed in Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa. Localities of collection include coastal (west and south) and inland sites (north). The Namibia specimens were collected from museum mammal skins in Kuboes. The biomes represented by these locations are: mixed tree and shrub savannah, Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo.^[6]

Behavior

N. namaqua is believed to be a generalist when choosing a host.^[8] N. namaqua has been collected from mammals, reptiles and birds' nests.^[6] Genetic sequencing of blood found in N. namaqua show a wide diversity of lizard hosts.^[8]

References