A genus of inornate hard ticks (family Ixodidae) consisting of about 50 species, all of which are Old World except Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Eyes and festoons are present in both sexes; short palpi and ventral plates are present only in the male. The genus includes important vectors of diseases in humans and domestic animals.
Origin: G. Rhipis, fan, + kephale, head
(05 Mar 2000)