Capricornella bicornuta, Błoszyk, Jerzy, Halliday, Bruce, Adamski, Zbigniew & Książkiewicz-Parulska, Zofia, 2017

Błoszyk, Jerzy, Halliday, Bruce, Adamski, Zbigniew & Książkiewicz-Parulska, Zofia, 2017, Capricornella bicornuta, a new genus and species of mite from eastern Australia (Acari: Uropodina), Zootaxa 4244 (3), pp. 321-338 : 322-333

Capricornella bicornuta sp. nov.

Type material. Holotype. Female, Australia, Queensland, Byfield , 22°51'S 150°39'E, R.W. Taylor & T.A. Weir coll., 26 October 1976, rainforest, 60 m asl., ANIC-538 [18]. Registration number ANIC 51 -006275 (in ANIC). Paratypes: 5 females, 10 males, same data as holotype, registration numbers ANIC 51 - 006276 to ANIC 51006289 (in ANIC); 13 females, 11 males, 3 DN, same data as holotype (in AMU).

Other material examined, not types. Queensland: 2 females, 1 male, Mt Cook National Park, 15°17'S 145°10' E, A. Calder & J. Feehan coll., 10 May 1981, rainforest ANIC-733 [12] ; 1 male, Seymour Range , 17°26'S 146°00'E, 10 July 1971, R.W. Taylor & J. Feehan coll., rainforest, 50 m asl. ANIC-376 [14] ; 3 females, 1 male, Eungella National Park , Broken River, 21°06'S 148°18' E, R.W. Taylor & T.A. Weir coll., 10-12 November 1976, rainforest, ANIC-568 [17] ; 1 female, 5 males, Kin Kin , Danger Brige, 26°15'S 152°52'E, T.A. Weir & A. Ślipiński coll., 20 October 2006, gallery forest litter, SLI-002 [20] ; 11 females, 19 males, 7 DN, Joalah National Park , 27°55'S 153°12'E, R.J. Kohout coll., 14 March 1973, rainforest, 380 m asl., ANIC-452 [21] ; 1 female, 1 male, Tamborine National Park , 27°56'S 153°12'E, T.A. Weir & A. Ślipiński coll., 26 October 2006, subtropical rainforest litter, SLI-006 [21] ; 29 females, 9 males, 7 DN, Lamington National Park , Border Track at O'Reilly's, 28°14'S 153°08'E, T.A. Weir & A. Ślipiński coll., 24 October 2006, hoop pine litter, subtropical rainforest, SLI- 005-1 [22] ; 6 females, 14 males, 3 DN, Lamington National Park , Wishing Tree Track, O'Reilly's, 28°14'S 153°08'E, T.A. Weir & A. Ślipiński coll., 26 October 2006, subtropical rainforest, SLI-005-2 [22] ; 4 females, 2 males, Lamington National Park , Wishing Tree Track, O'Reilly's, 28°14'S 153°08'E, T.A. Weir & A. Ślipiński coll., 26 October 2006, subtropical rainforest, SLI-005-3 [22] ; 1 female, 2 males, Lamington National Park , 3 km NNW of O'Reilly's, 28°07' S 15304' E, D.S. Chandler coll., 12 April 1993, subtropical closed forest, Eucalyptus propinqua litter, 850 m asl. ANIC-1507 [22]. New South Wales : 28 females, 37 males, 5 DN, 1 PN, Bundjalung National Park , Esk River at Iluka Highway, 29°21'S 153°19'E, D.S. Chandler coll., 25 February 1993, floodplain, dry sclerophyll litter, ANIC-1342 [23] ; 1 female, NSW Bundjalung National Park , south end of Iluka Nature Reserve, 29°24'S 153°21'E, D. S. Chandler coll., 31 March 1993, old littoral closed forest, Lophostemon and Syzygium litter, ANIC-1449 [23] ; 7 females, 6 males, Washpool National Park , Coachwood Walk, 29°17'S 152°11'E, D.S. Chandler coll., 6 March 1993, old warm temperate closed forest, Ceratopetalum apetalum litter, 790 m asl, ANIC- 1366 [24] ; 4 females, 1 male, Washpool National Park , Coachwood Walk, 29°17'S 152°11'E, D.S. Chandler coll., 6 March 1993, old warm temperate closed forest, Lophostemon and Acacia litter, ANIC-1367 [24] ; 4 males, 1 DN, Border Ranges National Park , camping area, 29°28'S 152°34'E, J. Błoszyk & S. Konwerski coll., 18 August 2007, rain forest with palms, decayed wood, unsieved, RBO-009 [24] ; 1 male, Border Ranges National Park , camping area, 29°28'S 152°34'E, J. Błoszyk & S. Konwerski coll., 18 August 2007, rain forest with palms, unsieved litter RBO-010 [24] ; 1 female, 1 male, 2 DN, 1 PN, Nymboi-Binderay National Park , 29°28'58''S 152°34'02''E, J. Błoszyk & S. Konwerski coll., 17 August 2007, Eucalyptus forest, sieved litter, NBP-002 [26] ; 9 females, Bruxner Flora Reserve , Sealy Lookout Road, 5 km NW Coffs Harbour, 30°09'S 153°04'E, D.S. Chandler coll., 23 May 1993, cut wet sclerophyll, Eucalyptus grandis litter, 260 m asl, ANIC-1608 [26] ; 16 females, 21 males, Bruxner Flora Reserve , Sealy Lookout Road, 5 km NW Coffs Harbour, 30°09'S 153°04'E, D.S. Chandler coll., 23 May 1993, cut wet sclerophyll rainforest litter, 260 m asl, ANIC-1611 [26] ; 17 females, 31 males, 5 DN, Bruxner Flora Reserve , Sealy Lookout Road, 5 km NW Coffs Harbour, 30°09'S 153°04'E, D.S. Chandler coll., 19 January 1993, cut wet sclerophyll, Eucalyptus grandis litter, ANIC-1660 [26] ; 9 females, 9 males, Gloucester River , Barrington Tops National Park, 32°04'S 151°41'E, T. Weir and A. Calder coll., 12-14 November 1981, rainforest leaf litter, ANIC-750 [27].

Female. Dorsal idiosoma ( Figs 4 , 10 ). Length 467–629 µm (mean 528 µm), width 393–550 µm (mean 449 µm) (n = 34). Dorsal shield with longitudinal central ridge and irregular anterior and lateral ridges, with surface ornamentation of small regular pits ( Figs 10–12 ). Dorsal shield setae smooth and needle-like, sparsely scattered, in approximately 25 pairs, but often unpaired and asymmetrical. Marginal setae numerous, irregularly scattered, shorter anteriorly.

Ventral idiosoma ( Figs 5 , 13–15 ). Tritosternum ( Fig. 8 ) with elongate amphora-shaped base, lacinia long and slender, divided into three branches, medial branch distally bifurcate. Sternal shield smooth, with five pairs of short simple sternal setae. Epigynal shield tongue-shaped, lateral margins undulating, posterior margin at level of coxae IV, central area ornamented with polygonal sculpture varying among individuals ( Figs 29–35 ). Anterior margin of epigynal shield with two long appendages, varying in length and thickness, sometimes distally bifurcate (13–66 µm). Length of epigynal shield (without appendages) 117–221 µm (mean 149 µm), width 46–98 µm (mean 77 µm) (n = 41). Ventral opisthosoma behind pedofossae IV ornamented with numerous small circular pits. Opisthosoma with five pairs of long (24–32 µm) ventral setae, and transverse row of numerous submarginal (sms) setae. Anus flanked by two pairs of adanal setae, Ad1 very short, Ad2 three times as long, post-anal seta (Pa) absent. Peritreme convoluted anteriorly, without post-stigmatal extension, stigmata at level of coxa III ( Fig. 5 ).

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 6 ). Hypostomal setae h1 long (104–109 µm), distally widened and flattened, h2 shorter, needle-like (43–50 µm), h3 longer than h2 (59–62 µm), h4 short and thick (30–31 µm). Corniculi short and thick, internal malae short and smooth. Deutosternal groove weakly defined, with a single row of 3–4 indistinct teeth. Ventral seta v1 on palp trochanter thick, similar in length to h4, v2 50 µm, serrated. Chelicera without internal sclerotised node, fixed digit longer than movable digit, with swollen bulbous tip, pilus dentilis and dorsal seta apparently absent ( Fig. 7 ), movable digit with one minute tooth. Epistome elongate, with square serrated base and strongly serrated lateral margins, distal end smooth and deeply bifurcate ( Fig. 9 ).

Legs ( Fig. 16 ). Ventral surfaces of coxa I and trochanter I ornamented with numerous small papillae, a few papillae also present on coxae II and III. Femur IV with a posterior membranous flap. All leg setae short, smooth and pointed, tarsus I with several distinctive sensory setae and small pair of claws ( Fig. 36 ), tarsi II–IV with longer and thicker claws.

Male. Dorsal idiosoma. Length 470–678 µm (mean 531 µm), width 390–608 µm (mean 495 µm) (n = 42). Structure and chaetotaxy as for female.

Ventral idiosoma ( Figs 17–18 ). Intercoxal region ornamented with numerous oval- shaped pits, with five pairs of simple sternal setae; st1–st4 anterior to genital operculum, st5 at its postero-lateral margin. Genital operculum oval, smooth (38–59 x 34 –52 µm; mean 46 x 41 µm, n = 41), without setae, located between coxae IV. Sculpture and chaetotaxy of opisthosoma as for female.

Legs. As for female, except tarsus I with larger claws ( Fig. 37 ), and leg II with large anterolateral spine on femur and small anterolateral protuberances on genu, tibia and basitarsus.

Deutonymph. Dorsal idiosoma. Length 402–476 µm, width 347–393 µm (mean 446 x 365 µm, n = 8). Dorsal shield with characteristic ornamentation of small oval pits ( Fig. 19 ), setae all very short and pointed except two pairs of longer setae near caudal margin ( Fig. 23 ). Marginal setae fine, simple, numerous.

Ventral idiosoma ( Figs 20 , 24–28 ). Sternal shield widest between coxae II–III, strongly narrowed between coxae IV; anterior margin with central point, margin smooth, central area with fine granular ornamentation; with five pairs of very short simple setae, and pair of large pores immediately behind st4. Peritrematal, metapodal and pericoxal shields fused; this shield ornamented with numerous circular pits. Ventri–anal shield wide, oval, with two pairs of short simple setae on its anterior border and three pairs of longer setae. Anal opening large. Peritreme long, slightly wavy in posterior half, without post-stigmatic section; stigmata at level between coxae II–III.

Legs. Leg chaetotaxy as for female. All leg setae smooth and pointed, tarsus I with several distinctive sensory setae, claws absent ( Fig. 38 ).

Protonymph. Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 21 ). Length (with lamella) 418–454 µm, width 319–368 µm. Podonotal shield large, narrow posteriorly, ornamented with numerous small pits, with five pairs of very short fine setae. First pair of mesonotal shields small and elongate, second pair larger, sub-triangular. Pygidial shield wide, curved, with strongly concave anterior margin. Submarginal setae short, needle-like, inserted on eight pairs of small submarginal platelets. Approximately 12 pairs of marginal shields, each with long projecting seta that supports a membranous lamella surrounding entire idiosoma, these setae inserted on characteristic tubercles.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 22 ) weakly sclerotised. Sternal shield smooth, wedge-shaped, located between coxae II–III, with three pairs of short needle-like setae. Peritrematal shields wide and smooth, peritremes short, straight, with serrated outer edges, with no post-stigmatal section. Ventri–anal shield wide, oval with one pair of setae and polygonal surface ornamentation. Opisthogastric integument with pair of large metapodal plates and three pairs of setae located on small shields.

Legs. All leg setae smooth and pointed, tarsus I with an extremely long terminal seta, claws absent ( Fig. 39 ).

Etymology. The specific name bicornuta refers to the two characteristic anterior appendages on the epigynal shield of the female.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 9. Capricornella bicornuta, female. 4, Dorsal idiosoma (ANIC- 568, [17]), Scale bar 100 µm; 5, Ventral idiosoma (ANIC- 538 [18]), Scale bar 100 µm; 6, Hypostome (ANIC- 538 [18]), Scale bar 50 µm; 7, Chelicera (ANIC- 538 [18]), Scale bar 50 µm; 8, Tritosternum (ANIC- 538 [18]), 9, Epistome (ANIC- 1342 [22]), Scale bar 50 µm.

FIGURES 10 – 12. Capricornella bicornuta, female. 10, Dorsal idiosoma; 11, Dorsal shield, anteromedial sculpture; 12, marginal setae.

FIGURES 13 – 15. Capricornella bicornuta, female. 13, Ventral idiosoma; 14, Posterior ventral opisthosoma; 15, Posterolateral ventral idiosoma.

FIGURES 29 – 35. Capricornella bicornuta, female. Variation in shape, size and sculpture of epigynal shield in different populations. 29, 30, ANIC 452 [21]; 31, ANIC- 538 [18]; 32, ANIC- 542 [13]; 33, ANIC- 1366 [24]; 34, ANIC- 1312 [22]; 35, SLI – 005 – 2 [22]. Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURES 16 – 17. Capricornella bicornuta. 16, Female, legs (ANIC- 538 [18]), Scale bar 100 µm; 17, Male, ventral idiosoma (ANIC- 568 [17]), Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURES 36 – 39. Capricornella bicornuta, tarsus I. 36, Female; 37, Male; 38, Deutonymph; 39, Protonymph.

FIGURES 18 – 19. Capricornella bicornuta. 18, Male, ventral idiosoma (ANIC- 568 [17]); 19, Deutonymph, dorsal idiosoma (ANIC- 568 [17]), Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURES 20 – 23. Capricornella bicornuta. 20, Deutonymph, ventral idiosoma (RBO- 009 [24]); 21, Protonymph, dorsal idiosoma (ANIC- 452 [21]); 22, Protonymph, ventral idiosoma (ANIC- 452 [21]); 23, Deutonymph, posterior dorsal shield (RBO- 009 [24]), Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURES 24 – 28. Capricornella bicornuta, deutonymph. 24, Ventral idiosoma; 25, Intercoxal region; 26, Ventral opisthosoma; 27, Legs III and IV; 28, Anteroventral idiosoma and gnathosoma.