Atractides allgaier Gerecke

Pesic, Vladimir & Erman, Orhan, 2006, Water mite species of the genus Atractides Koch (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Hygrobatidae) from Turkey, with a description of one new species, Zootaxa 1198, pp. 53-68 : 55-65

Atractides allgaier Gerecke

Records from the study area Rize Province — Turan & Pesic (2005).

Distribution Germany, Turkey; probably western Palaearctic distribution.

Atractides inflatus (Walter)

Records from the study area Antalya and Mersin Provincies — Smit (1995).

Distribution Mediterranean, Turkey, Iran.

Atractides ovalis Koenike

Records from the study area East Anatolia — Oezkan (1982).

Distribution Northern and Central Europe, Italy, Turkey.

Atractides fluviatilis (Szalay)

( Table 1 )

Material examined Malatya Province, Pütürge, Siro stream (38º14’N 38º50E), 750 m asl., 14.09.2003, leg. Erman (1/14/0).

Remarks

The specimens from Turkey agree well with the specimens from the Balkans and Iran. The male from Iran differs in having an apple­shaped genital field with Ac­3 strongly reduced in size ( Pesic et al. 2004). In Table 1 we give the measurements of the specimen from Pütürge­Erdemler stream which represents the first record of the species in Turkey.

Distribution:

The Balkans, Central Europe, Iberian peninsula, Iran, Turkey; former records of A. fluviatilis require re­confirmation for a better understanding of its geographical distribution.

Atractides lunipes Lundblad

( Table 1 )

Material examined Malatya Province, Pütürge, Mezra stream (38º13’N 38º42’E), 900 m asl., 17.10.2004, leg. Erman (0/1/0).

Remarks

The female from Turkey agrees well with the specimens from Iran and the Balkans ( Macedonia). Females from Macedonia ( Pesic 2003), Iran ( Pesic et al. 2004) and Turkey differ from the original description (in parentheses the data of the holotype given by Gerecke 2003) by the following measurements: S­1 L <130 µm (143 µm), ratio S­1 L/W <13 (20.4); ratio S­2 L/W <6.5 (7.7); ratio L I­L­5/6 1.3–1.45 (1.17); genital field L/W> 180.0/200 (L/ W 162.0 /166.0). From the Iranian females, the specimens from Turkey and Macedonia (in parentheses data of the specimens from Macedonia given by Pesic 2003) differ in a shorter segments I­L­5/6 (L I­L­5 235­239; L I­L­6 165­180) and a more slender I­L­5 (L/H 4.0­4.2); the specimens from Macedonia (in parentheses, from Pesic 2003) differ from the specimen from Turkey in a shorter S­2 (L <85.0 µm) and more heteromorphic setae S­1 and ­2 (ratio length S­1/2 1.5–1.6). For the time being they all should be considered as representatives of A. lunipes , in this concept of a variable species ( Pesic et al. 2004). More material from the locus typicus (French Pyrenees) will show if the differences are consistent, and if a separate ranking of the eastern populations is warranted. Table 1 presents the measurements of the first specimens from Turkey which represent the first record of the species in the study area.

Distribution: Presently, Atractides lunipes is known from the French Pyrenees, Macedonia, Iran and Turkey.

Atractides oezkani sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–10 )

Type series

Holotype: male, dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer’s fluid. Turkey: Malatya Province, Darende, Tohma stream (38º30’N 37º31E), 1000 m asl., 0 4.08.2005, leg. Erman ; Paratypes: 3 females, same data as holotype, one female of them dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer’s fluid .

Diagnosis

Dorsum: Integument dorsally: lineated; muscle attachments: unsclerotized. I­L: I­L­5 S­1/2 distanced, S­2 enlarged; I­L­6 curved, strongly narrowed distally. Genital field: Acetabula in a curved line either side of the genital opening; excretory pore: smooth; Vgl­ 1: not fused with Vgl­2. Palp: strong sexual dimorphism in P­2, P­4 sword seta close to the distoventral hair, the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral hair.

Description Male: Idiosoma L 738, W 650. Integument dorsally lineated; muscle attachments unsclerotized. Coxal field ( Fig. 1 ): length between anterior end of first coxae and posterior end of fourth coxae 366; Cx­3 W 409; Cx­1+2 medial suture L 135; distance from lateralmost tips of Cx­2 to the medioposterior edge of Cx­1+2 253. Measurements of mouthparts: palp total L 303, L and relative L (% total L, in parentheses): P­1 33 (10.8), P­ 2 70 (23.1), P­3 68 (22.4), P­4 100 (33.0), P­5 32 (10.6); L P­2/P­4 is 0.7; palp ( Figs. 4–5 ): P­2 with ventrodistal protrusion, separated by a small longitudinal sulcus from a lateral lamelar part that continues into the laterodistal margin of the segment; P­4 with sword seta near distoventral hair, the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral hair. Genital field ( Fig. 2 ): Ac in a curved line, L 109, W 134, Ac­1­3 L 30­32­36; excretory pore smooth; Vgl­1: separate from Vgl­2.

I­L ( Fig. 3 ): I­L­5 S­1 and ­2 widely separated, S­2 thick; I­L­6 curved ventrally, slightly thickened basally, with parallel dorsal and ventral margins; I­L­5 L 182, I­L­5 vL 124, L/vL 1.47, I­L­5 H 53, L/H 3.4, S­1 L 87, L/ W 9.7, S­2 L 77, L/ W 6.3, S­1­2 interspace 18, L ratio S­1/2 1.13; I­L­6 L 136, I­L­6 H 19.6, L/H 6.9; L I­L­5/6 1.34.

Female: Idiosoma L 1069, W 881. Coxal field ( Fig. 6 ): length between anterior end of first coxae and posterior end of fourth coxae 450; Cx­3 W 606; Cx­1+2 medial suture L 147; distance from lateralmost tips of Cx­2 to the medioposterior edge of Cx­1+2 300. Measurements of mouthparts: palp total L 398, L and relative L (% total L, in parentheses): P­1 40 (10.1), P­2 90 (22.6), P­3 100 (25.1), P­4 127 (31.9), P­5 41 (10.3), L P­2/P­4 is 0.71; palp ( Fig. 8 ): P­2 ventrodistal edge slightly protruding and rounded, P­4 sword seta nearer to distoventral hair. Genital field ( Fig. 7 ): Ac in an obtuse triangle, L 195, W 220, individual genital plate L 133, Ac­1­3 L 45­60­56; egg maximum diameter (n=5) 128–138; excretory pore smooth; Vgl­1: separate from Vgl­2.

I­L ( Fig. 9 ): I­L­5 L 250, I­L­5 vL 159, L/vL 1.57, I­L­5 H 67, L/H 3.73, S­1 L 118, L/ W 10.8, S­2 L 99, L/ W 5.03, S­1­2 interspace 35, L ratio S­1/2 1.19; I­L­6 L 183, I­L­6 H 22.7, L/H 8.1; L I­L­5/6 1.37.

Discussion

Atractides oezkani sp. nov. shares the combination of a lineated integument, the relatively long I­L­6 (L ratio I­L­5/6 <1.60), unsclerotized excretory pore, unfused Vgl­1/ 2, and P­2 with a ventrodistal projection in male, with A. fissus (Walter) , A. remotus Szalay , A. valencianus (K.Viets) , A. inflatipalpis K.Viets and A. mossahebii Pesic. A. fissus (see: Gerecke 2003, Pesic 2002) clearly differs from A. oezkani in having a weakly developed ventrodistal projection in the male P­2, and larger acetabula in a triangular arrangement. In contrast to A. oezkani the suture line of Cx­2/3 of A. remotus is indistinct and all coxae are almost fused to complete coxal field ( Gerecke 2003).

The most important difference between A. oezkani and A. inflatipalpis , A. mossahebii and A. fissus is found in the P­4: A. oezkani has the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral, while it is normal in shape and slender in the males of A. valencianus , A. inflatipalpis and A. mossahebii (see: Gerecke 2003, Pesic et al. 2004). Further differences are found in a shorter medial suture Cx­1+2 of A. oezkani , the smaller dimensions of genital acetabula in A. valencianus and A. inflatipalpis , and a larger I­L­5/6, longer S­1 and ­ 2, and wider interspace in A. mossahebii .

With its combination of a lineated dorsal integument and a strong sexual dimorphism of P­2, A. oezkani is similar to A. fonticolus (K. Viets) and A. pennatus (K. Viets) . It differs clearly from both species in the more distant S­1 and ­ 2 on I­L­5 and the more slender I­L­ 6. From A. markaziensis Pesic (in parentheses, data from Pesic et al. 2004) a species similar due to the shape of the palp (strong sexual dimorphism in P­2, the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral hair), A. oezkani is easily distinguished by a lineated, not striated integument and a relatively long I­L­6 (L I­L­5/6> 1.6).

Etymology: The species is named in honor Prof. Dr. Muhlis Özkan in appreciation of his studies of Turkish water mites.

Biology Atractides oezkani is a rhitrobiontic species.

Distribution: Turkey, only known from the locus typicus in the Malatya Province.

Atractides panniculatus (K.Viets)

( Figs. 11–17 , Table 1 )

Material examined

Elazig Province, Alacakaya, Halkali stream (38º31’N 40º00’E), 1230 asl., 0 7.10.2004, leg. Erman (2/0/0) ; Elazig Province, Karakocan, Kalecik stream (39º00’N 40º02’E), 1080 m asl., 0 2.10.1999, leg. Erman (1/0/0) ; Malatya Province, Pütürge, Erdemler stream (38º11’N 38º45’E) 850 m asl., 12.09.2003, leg. Erman (2/0/0) ; Malatya Province, Pütürge, Göze stream (38º13’N 39º00’E), 800 m asl., 13.09.2003, leg. Erman (7/1/0) ; Malatya Province, Pütürge, Mezra stream (38º13’N 38º 42’E), 900 m asl., 28.08.2005, leg. Erman (3/0/0).

Records from study area East Anatolia — Oezkan (1982).

Remarks

The Turkish specimens show a general conformity with Atractides panniculatus in the combination of a lineated integument, unsclerotized excretory pore, unfused Vgl­1/2, P­2 ventrodistally convex but without projection, ventrodistal hair on P­4 distally arranged (ventral margin divided by hair insertions 2: 3: 1) ( Figs. 13­14 ) and a relatively slender I­ L­6 (L/H> 7.5) ( Fig. 12 ). The differences (in parentheses the measurements of the Central 6; 13 = palp, lateral view; 14 = palp, medial view. Scale Bars = 100 µm.

European male specimens, data from Gerecke 2003) are found in a smaller Ac arranged in an obtuse triangle ( Fig. 11 ) (Ac maximum diameter> 50 µm, in triangle arrangement with posterior edge of Ac­1 adjacent to anterior edge of Ac­3), a smaller I­L­5/6 (L> 200/150) and S­1 and ­ 2 narrower interspace (> 30 µm). The specimen from Göze Pütürge suspected to represent the female of A. panniculatus differs from the specimens from Central Europe (in parentheses, measurements for paralectotype ­ data from Gerecke 2003 and specimens [n =2] from Poland ­ Pesic & Chaniecka 2006) in a more distant S­1 and ­ 2 on I­L­5 (38 µm in paralectotype, 37­38 µm in females from Poland), a stouter I­L­5 (L/H 3.68 in paralectotype, 3.2­3.3 in females from Poland), with relatively shorter ventral margin (L/vL 1.44 in paralectotype, 1.57­1.6 in females from Poland), a longer S­2 (130 µm in paralectotype, 131­133 µm in females from Poland), a more slender I­L­6 (L/H 9.9 in paralectotype, 7.6­8.0 in females from Poland) and Ac arranged in an obtuse triangle ( Fig. 15 ) compared with the specimens from the type series (see: Gerecke 2003).

Most probably, future investigations on the geographical variation in A. panniculatus will prove that this taxon represents a species complex. In Table 1 we give the measurements of the males (n = 5, from Pütürge­Erdemler, Pütürge­Göze, Pütürge­Mezra and Alacakaya­Halkali) and the female (from Pütürge­Göze).

Distribution Iberian peninsula, Central Europe, Carpathians, Turkey.

Atractides rivalis Lundblad

( Figs. 18–21 )

Material examined Malatya Province, Pütürge, Erdemler stream (38º11’N 38º45’E), 850 m asl., 12.09.2003, leg. Erman (1/0/0).

Morphology

Male: Idiosoma L 650, W 520. Integument dorsally lineated; muscle attachments: unsclerotized. Coxal field ( Fig. 18 ): length between anterior end of first coxae and posterior end of fourth coxae 331, Cx­3 W 381, Cx­1+2 medial suture L 103, distance from lateralmost tips of Cx­2 to the medioposterior edge of Cx­1+2 228. Measurements of mouthparts: palp total L 291, L and relative L (% total L, in parentheses): P­1 33 (11.3), P­ 2 68 (23.4), P­3 62 (21.3), P­4 97 (33.3), P­5 31 (10.7); L P­2/P­4 0.7; palp ( Figs. 20­21 ): P­2 ventrodistally strongly convex, but without protrusion; P­4 thickened, slightly elevated near proximoventral hair, sword seta nearer to the distoventral hair. Genital field ( Fig. 19 ): Ac large, in compact triangular arrangement, L 125, W 156, Ac­1­3 L 52­55­48; excretory pore smooth; Vgl­1: separate from Vgl­2.

I­L ( Fig. 20 ): S­1/2 moderately separated and heteromorphic; I­L­6 curved; I­L­5 L 159, I­L­5 vL 106, L/vL 1.5, I­L­5 H 49, L/H 3.28, S­1 L 78, L/ W 8.7, S­2 L 64, L/ W 5.3, S­1­2 interspace 15, L ratio S­1/2 1.23; I­L­6 L 121, H 21, L/H 5.7; L I­L­5/6 1.32.

Remarks

In the combination of a lineated integument, unsclerotized excretory pore, unfused Vgl­1/2, large acetabula in triangular arrangement, P­2 ventrodistally convex, but without projection, ventral margin P­4 divided by hair insertions 1: 1: 1, relatively stouter I­L­6 (L/ H <7.5) and setae S­1/2 moderately separated (interspace <30 µm), the specimen from Turkey agrees well with A. rivalis known previously only from Austria and Poland (the latter record needs confirmation, Gerecke 2003). The male from Turkey differs in having a shorter setal interspace (15 vs. 22 in male from Austria, data from Gerecke 2003) and setae S­1 and ­2 of I­L­5 are shorter and stouter (ratio L/W S­1 11.3, S­2 7.2 in male from Austria, data from Gerecke 2003). The variability of additional Turkish specimens is necessary before we can assess the taxonomic status of this specimen.

Distribution:

Austria, Poland. In view of the little understood morphology of A. rivalis , the two records after the first description require re­confirmation for a better understanding of its geographical distribution.

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. Atractides oezkani sp. nov., male: 1 = coxal field; 2 = genital field; 3 = I­L­5/6; 4 = palp, lateral view; 5 = palp, medial view. Scale Bars = 100 µm.

FIGURES 6–10. Atractides oezkani sp. nov., (6–9 = female, 10 = male): 6 = coxal field; 7 = genital field; 8 = palp, medial view; 9 = I­L­5/6; 10 = IV–L. Scale Bar = 100 µm.

FIGURES 11–14. Atractides panniculatus (K.Viets), male: 11 = coxal and genital field; 12 = I­L­5/

FIGURES 15–17. Atractides panniculatus (K.Viets), female: 15 = genital field; 16 = palp, lateral view; 17 = I­L­5/6. Scale Bar = 100 µm.

FIGURES 18–21. Atractides rivalis Lundblad, male: 18 = coxal field; 19 = genital field; 20 = palp, medial view; 21 = I­L­5/6. Scale Bars = 100 µm