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I recorded a video of this bug:

enter image description here

https://youtu.be/0eoWfHLEo7A

I counted 8 legs, the front legs are a little curved. The drawing on the flat back is dark and looks like the image of Jesus with some light from behind, hahahaha. I found it on the curtain of my bedroom. I believe it belongs to some tree where it can use its camouflage. Can anyone identify it?

Location: Valencia, Spain.

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  • $\begingroup$ Where (geographically speaking) was it found? $\endgroup$
    – MattDMo
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 17:44
  • $\begingroup$ Grao de Gandia, Valencia, Spain. $\endgroup$
    – Samuil Plamenov
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 17:49
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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to Biology S.E.! If you need any assistance, please visit The Help Center. $\endgroup$
    – L.B.
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 17:52

2 Answers 2

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I think it looks a lot like a European Pigeon Tick (Argas reflexus).

They infest pigeons and they die when infesting humans, which they only do if they are very hungry (yours looks hungry though). May also transmit diseases.

Edit:
It could also be an Blyborough Tick (Argas vespertilionis). They infest bats and are a little rounder in shape but look otherwise similar.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you very much! I'm glad I killed it in time. Although it went inside a hole and I had to stick something to kill it. $\endgroup$
    – Samuil Plamenov
    Commented Apr 16, 2015 at 17:19
  • $\begingroup$ By the way, we live close to a park full of bats and some have tried getting in. So, it is highly likely to be an Argas vespertilionis $\endgroup$
    – Samuil Plamenov
    Commented Apr 16, 2015 at 17:25
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My best guess is a soft-bodied tick, perhaps of the Ornithodoros genus, although the determination of the species is a little more difficult. Though, if it's O. erraticus they're known for causing african swine fever in Spain and Portugal (1).

Ornithodoros

In response to the comments, here's a link from Texas A&M which notes the ticks pump waste+water back out into the host, and this is why they transmit so many infections.

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  • $\begingroup$ That wiki page says "The opening between the midgut and hindgut has been lost, making the ticks unable to pass digestive waste products out of their bodies", so do these ticks just fill up with waste? $\endgroup$
    – user137
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 19:10
  • $\begingroup$ If that is true, no doubt why they carry diseases and viruses. $\endgroup$
    – Samuil Plamenov
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 19:17
  • $\begingroup$ @user137 I've updated the answer to respond to your comment. The ticks pump the waste back into the host. $\endgroup$
    – CKM
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 19:26
  • $\begingroup$ @Kendall That makes these ticks even worse. $\endgroup$
    – user137
    Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 21:18

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