Ticks originate from ancient arachnids and are prehistoric creatures that have existed for tens of millions of years. Fossil evidence shows that ticks date back to around 90 to 105 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, with their last common ancestor living approximately 195 million years ago in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically in the region of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent, which included parts of present-day Africa

. Ecologically, ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They typically come from environments rich in vegetation such as wooded areas, grassy fields, bushes, and shaded places. They thrive in warm and humid climates where their host animals are abundant, often living in nests, dens, and leaf litter where they can easily find hosts to feed on

. In summary:

• Ticks evolved from ancient arachnids millions of years ago.
• They originated in the African region of the Gondwana supercontinent.
• They are found mostly in wooded, grassy, and moist environments where host animals live.
• Ticks have a long evolutionary history and are widely distributed globally today