Which tick is commonly known as the American dog tick?

• A. Dermacentor variabilis
• B. Rhipicephalus sanguineus
• C. Amblyomma americanum
• D. Ixodes scapularis

Answer: (A)

The American dog tick is Dermacentor variabilis, a common hard tick found on dogs across the United States. It’s well known as a vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Other ticks listed belong to different genera with distinct common names: the brown dog tick is Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the black-legged tick is Ixodes scapularis, and the Lone Star tick is Amblyomma americanum. So Dermacentor variabilis is the tick most commonly called the American dog tick.