Redescription of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) elliptica (Koch, 1844), an old taxon of the Haemaphysalis [Rhipistoma leachi group from East and southern Africa, and of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi (Audouin, 1826) (Ixodida, Ixodidae)

Koch (1844) originally described only the male of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) elliptica (Koch, 1844), which he named Rhipistoma ellipticum. For the past century, however, this name has been considered a junior synonym of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi (Audouin, 1826), or a nomen nudum. We redescribe here the male and larva of H. (R.) elliptica and describe the female and nymph for the first time. Our redescription is based on the male holotype, plus numerous specimens from southern and East Africa. The adults of this tick parasitize domestic and wild carnivores, and the immature stages infest rodents in these regions. For comparative purposes redescriptions of all parasitic stages of H. (R.) leachi are provided. It parasitizes the same hosts as H. (R) elliptica in Egypt, and in northeastern, Central, West and East Africa.