[3] The tick has a three-host life-cycle, spending around 10% of its life feeding on animals.

[2] The most common host species include buffalo, cattle, and large antelope,[2] but R. appendiculatus is also found on other animals, such as hares, dogs, and warthogs.

[4] Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is found in the center, east and south-east of Africa,[4] in areas with at least 24 in (610 mm) of rainfall each year.

[2] R. appendiculatus is 1.8 to 4.4 mm (0.071 to 0.173 in) long, and is a dark reddish-brown or brown color.

[1] The sex pheromone used by female ticks to attract males for mating consists of two chemicals; phenol and p-cresol.