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Anatomy explainerWorldwide

What is the capitulum of a tick?

The capitulum is the tick's projecting mouthpart-bearing structure. It includes paired palps, cutting chelicerae and the anchoring hypostome.

Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For Everyone

Short answer

The capitulum is the tick's projecting mouthpart-bearing structure. It includes paired palps, cutting chelicerae and the anchoring hypostome.

At a glance

It is sometimes casually called the head, but a tick does not have a separate head in the same way as an insect.

Key takeaways

• The capitulum carries feeding structures.

• Palps are not legs.

• Its shape helps specialists identify ticks.

A feeding platform

The capitulum brings together the structures used to locate, cut and secure the attachment site. On hard ticks it is usually visible from above; on most soft-tick stages it sits underneath.

An identification feature

Relative length and shape can distinguish genera or species, but accurate examination may require magnification and a regional taxonomic key.

Sources and further reading

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Tick factsheets

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Ticks and Tickborne Disease