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Can Lizards get ticks? |
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Adderz
Member Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Posted: 07 Sep 2011 at 6:24pm |
Hi All,
Just wondering if Common Lizards can be bitten by ticks? The Common Lizard in this picture seems to have something behind its front leg and I am not really sure of what else it could be. It was in Scotland so there would have been plenty of ticks around.
Cheers for your thoughts!
Rob
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I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left....
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Iowarth
Admin Group Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Status: Offline Points: 743 |
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Hi Rob Yeap, they certainly can. We see them a lot on Common Lizards and Sand Lizards down here, especially when there are deer around. Certainly these appear to be fairly typical ticks. Chris |
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Chris Davis, Site Administrator
Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED) |
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Richard2
Senior Member Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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I've noticed that the ticks nearly always seem to be in that position, just behind the front legs. I wonder why. Is it the warmest part of the body?
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Iowarth
Admin Group Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Status: Offline Points: 743 |
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I should imagine it is simply that this is the main position which combines relatively soft scalation with the inability of the lizard to remove them. If a tick attached further back on the body the lizard would simply turn round and nibble it off!! Certainly seen them doing this with mites. Chris |
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Chris Davis, Site Administrator
Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED) |
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Richard2
Senior Member Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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Interesting - that certainly makes sense. I suppose it's also the position in which the ticks are most sheltered from being snagged as the lizard moves through vegetation.
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Richard2
Senior Member Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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I don't remember seeing them on snakes. Have you? Could be because they'd be forced off as the snake went through thick stalks and roots.
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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I've seen ticks on grass snakes that were otherwise debilitated or poorly. I'm guessing perhaps a healthy snake which regularly sloughs would be fairly tick free, whereas one in very poor condition may not be sloughing.
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AGILIS
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689 |
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Here is a pic of a juvenile La with a tic on its arm pit that was basking at Stoborough in May, Is a dab of parrafin on the ticks body still a good method of treatment as its not advised to bust tick due to infection as tick dies with head still in the skin?? keith
Edited by AGILIS - 09 Sep 2011 at 8:05am |
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LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
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Liz Heard
Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 1429 |
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without wishing to state the obvious, its worth bearing in mind that humans can get ticks too. and that they carry a nasty disease (Lyme's).
a mate of mine (a deer stalker) has got it. he diagnosed himself by researching his symptoms on the net and then having it confirmed by his GP. from what hes told me, its pretty nasty and very debilitating, so beware herpers! |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Certainly worth 'de-ticking' after being in bracken for the day. I've had a few!
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