Species identification of Rhipicephalus duttoni in relation to the Rhipicephalus appendiculatus group (Acarina: Ixodidae).

Rhipicephalus duttoni Neumann is a common tick species in Angola, where its distribution is sympatric with that of R. zambeziensis Walker. Evidence is presented supporting R. duttoni as a distinct species of the R. appendiculatus group. R. duttoni showed a species-specific glucose phosphate isomerase isoenzyme pattern. The ticks, which are difficult to distinguish morphologically, could be assigned to R. duttoni or R. zambeziensis on the basis of their isoenzyme patterns. No R. appendiculatus (Neumann) isoenzyme pattern was found in samples from southwestern Angola.