Genus RHIPICEPHALUS Koch, 1844

 Species of this genus (except R. sanguineus, disseminated by man) occur only in the Old World, and are absent from America, Australia, and New Guinea. Species of this genus are distributed within its range extremely irregularly. A large majority of species occur on the African continent, with a species diversity center in East Africa. These ticks mainly inhabit open and half-open dry biotopes, with only a small number of species inhabiting rainforests. Almost all species are three-host ticks, only three species (subgenus Digineus) are two-host ticks. Rhipicephalus species only parasitize mammals, but at the same time most species do not show strict host specificity and feed on various large and middle-sized mammals. Some species are mass parasites of livestock and vectors of diseases to domestic animals. One species, R. appendiculatus, is extremely harmful to animal industries. Some species are of great epidemiological importance. Rhipicephalus pumilio is a vector of Astrakhan fever caused by Rickettsia conorii.

Map 40

 Sudan (southern), Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zaire (east), Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Republic of South Africa, and Mauritius.

 All stages feed on large and middle-sized mammals, but prefer cattle, wild buffalo, and large antelopes. Immature ticks also successfully feed on small antelopes, carnivores, and hares. Adults attach to ears, rarely on the head, and almost never on other parts of the body of their hosts. Nymphs attach to ears, the head, and legs. Larvae are located on the head and legs of their hosts. The intensity of infestation can be very high, over 1,000 adults and several thousand larvae and nymphs per host.

 Adults are active during the rainy season, and immature ticks are active during the dry period. Depending on the duration of the rainy season, ticks can produce up to 3 generations per year.

 Of all species of this genus, R. appendiculatus causes the most damage to animal husbandry. It is a principal vector of East Coast fever, which is a serious disease in cattle, with death rates reaching 90 to 100%. Tick bites can cause paralysis in animals, and there have been fatal cases reported in the antelope eland.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).

Map 26

 Uganda, Tanzania (north-western), and Zambia.

 Most adults were collected on the antelope Tragelaphus spekii, but a few specimens were taken from cattle, a lion, and a leopard. Immature ticks have not been described.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).

Map 33

 Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania (extreme northern).

 Adults mainly parasitize carnivores, such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, and others. However, the largest collection was taken from a hedgehog (24 adults). Immature ticks feed on carnivores and hares. Rare species.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).

Map 13

 Republic of South Africa and Zimbabwe (southern).

 Principal hosts of adults are the rabbits Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis. Immature ticks were also collected on the same hosts, as well as a hyrax Procavia capensis, an elephant shrew Elephantulus myurus, and hares.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).

Map 41

 Sudan (southern), Kenya, Zaire (Kiwu), Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania (northeastern).

 Mountain forest at an altitude of 1800 to 2500 m.

 Rare species. Adults were collected from a buffalo, wild pigs, cattle, goats, and humans. Immature ticks have not been described.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).

Map 41

 Ethiopia and Sudan (eastern).

 Mountain savannas up to the altitude of 3000 m.

 Most collections were taken from cattle, but a small portion came from sheep. Single collections were taken from other kinds of livestock, antelopes (nyala, bushbuck, and greater kudu), and a hyena. Adults are active in the rainy season. Immature ticks have not been described.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).

Map 16

 Benin and Cameroon.

 Adults were collected from the hyrax Procavia capensis. Immature ticks have not been described.

 Literature: Walker et al. (2000).