Zelandaturus magnipes, Smit, Harry, 2015

Smit, Harry, 2015, A new notoaturine genus from New Zealand (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Aturidae: Notoaturinae), Zootaxa 4033 (3), pp. 442-444 : 444

Zelandaturus magnipes n. sp. ( Figs 1A–G )

Type material. Holotype male, Camping Gully stream near Rakaia Gorge, hyporheic, South Island, New Zealand, 43º 31.608 S 171º 40.345 E, alt. 282 m asl, 19-xii-2014, leg. H. Smit.

Diagnosis. As for genus.

Description. Male: Idiosoma ventrally 664 long, dorsally 579 long and 421 wide. Anterior large plate 202 long, posterior large plate 243 long. Posterior idiosoma margin dorsally with two rounded extensions. Glandularia of fourth coxae near suture line of third and fourth coxae. At level of fourth leg sockets a pair of glandularia. Numerous acetabula located near posterior idiosoma margin, some appear larger than others, but acetabula hard to discern. Ventrally in posterolateral corners a group of setae. Capitulum 108 long, anchoral process short. Length of P1-5: 34, 78, 52, 106, 48. P1 elongated; P2 ventrally and medially with a group of needle-like setae; P3 with two thin dorsal setae, P4 slender, ventrally with two long setae. Length of II-leg-2-6: 68, 45, -, 74, 56. II-leg-1 ventrally with one and dorsally with two long, curved setae, II-leg-2 elongated and dorsally with one long curved seta, II-leg-3 with a ventrodistal long, stout seta, dorsally with two feathered setae. I- and III-leg not modified. Length of IV-leg-4-6: 140, 128, 60. Fourth leg compared to other legs very heavy; IV-leg-2-5 ventrally with curved long setae.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology. Named for the very heavy fourth legs.

Remarks. The new species is one of the many hyporheic species found in New Zealand. Cook (1983) listed 37 hyporheic species in 20 genera. Pesic et al (2010) listed another hyporheic genus and seven hyporheic species More than half of the 21 hyporheic genera are Notoaturinae.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A – G. Zelandaturus magnipes n. sp., holotype male; A. venter; B. dorsum; C. Outline of lateral idiosoma; D. palp; E. Capitulum + palp; F. II-leg- 1 - 6; G. IV-leg- 1 - 6. Scale bars: A – B, D – G = 50 µm, C = 200 µm.