As a hard tick belonging to Ixodidae, what protects the back of Ixodes pacificus?
Answer
A tough, sclerotized shield
The classification of *Ixodes pacificus* places it within the Ixodidae family, which defines it as a hard tick. This categorization is based on a critical structural component: the presence of a tough, sclerotized shield covering a significant portion of its dorsal surface. This rigid shield provides substantial physical protection to the tick's vital organs. While the female's abdomen can stretch considerably due to partial coverage by this shield, the shield itself remains the defining hard outer layer characteristic of this group of ticks.
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