Ornithodoros

arachnid genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Ornithodoros is a genus of soft ticks, which are arachnids belonging to the order Ixodida. These ticks are known for their ability to survive for extended periods without feeding, sometimes for several years. They have a life cycle that typically involves multiple hosts and developmental stages, including egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Ornithodoros species are medically significant as they can transmit diseases to humans, such as relapsing fever.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

acarid
Importance
…ticks (Argasidae) of the genus Ornithodoros. Texas cattle fever is a widespread protozoan disease transmitted by cattle ticks (Boophilus). This disease, no longer prevalent in the United States because the tick has been eliminated, remains important in many tropical and subtropical countries. Various other diseases transmitted to animals by ticks…
Read More
…ticks (Argasidae) of the genus Ornithodoros. Texas cattle fever is a widespread protozoan disease transmitted by cattle ticks (Boophilus). This disease, no longer prevalent in the United States because the tick has been eliminated, remains important in many tropical and subtropical countries. Various other diseases transmitted to animals by ticks…
Read More

relapsing fever
…soft-bodied ticks of the genus Ornithodoros or by the hard-bodied tick Ixodes scapularis. Epidemics of the disease have occurred during wars, earthquakes, famines, and floods.
Read More
…soft-bodied ticks of the genus Ornithodoros or by the hard-bodied tick Ixodes scapularis. Epidemics of the disease have occurred during wars, earthquakes, famines, and floods.
Read More