What does the term Acarina represent in the context of tick classification?
Answer
The group containing both ticks and mites
Acarina represents a broader grouping within the taxonomic hierarchy that encompasses ticks and mites. While the Order Ixodida is the precise designation for hard ticks, Acarina functions as a larger category, sometimes referenced as a subclass or order depending on the classification system used, that unites these specific arachnids. For instance, some systems place *D. andersoni* under Class Arachnida, Subclass Acaria, and Order Ixodida, showing that Acarina is the super-set that includes the target organism alongside mites, whereas Ixodida is the specialized order focusing solely on hard ticks.
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