Albia (Albiella) ilikensis, Smit, Harry, 2013

Smit, Harry, 2013, New records of water mites mainly from Vogelkop, New Guinea (Acari: Hydrachnidia), with the description of one new genus and thirteen new species, Zootaxa 3716 (2), pp. 207-235 : 228-229

Albia (Albiella) ilikensis n. sp.

( Figures 56–58 )

Material examined. Holotype female, stream Ilik, near lake Gita, Anggi Lakes, West Papua Province, New Guinea, Indonesia, 1° 21.423 S 133° 58.553 E, alt. 1912 m asl., 17.xi.2011 (RMNH).

Diagnosis. Suture lines separating Cx-I and -II well developed, suture line Cx-II/III laterally obliterated, proximally ending near IV-leg sockets. Suture lines separating Cx-III and Cx-IV obliterated, but medial, posterior and posterolateral border of Cx-IV well pronounced. Cxgl–4 shifted far anteriorly; L2 located far anteromedially, posterior to Cx-III; suture lines of Cx-III and Cx-IV obliterated.

Description. Female: Colour yellowish, idiosoma 773 long and 551 wide. Dorsal and ventral shields present. Anterior coxal plates not extending to anterior idiosoma margin. Suture lines separating Cx-I and -II well developed, suture line Cx-II/III laterally obliterated, proximally ending near IV-leg sockets. Suture lines separating Cx-III and Cx-IV obliterated, but medial, posterior and posterolateral border of Cx-IV well pronounced. Cxgl-4 shifted far anteriorly. L1 near anterior lateral ridge, L2 shifted far medially, located near posterolateral edge of Cx- III. Genital field with numerous acetabula (approximately 34). Lengths of PI-PV: 40, 64, 50, 74, 37; PV with one long and pointed terminal claw. Lengths of I-leg-4–6: 60, 58, 46. Lengths of IV-leg-4–6: 96, 98, 72. Third and fourth legs with swimming setae, but due to mounting no reliable setae numbers can be ascertained.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology. Named after the stream where the species has been found.

Remarks. The medial shifting of L 2 in the new species is unusual. In A. wauensis Wiles, 1992 , which is close to the new species in Cxgl–4 shifted anteriorly, L1, but not L2 have shifted medially and the suture lines separating Cx-III from Cx-IV are not obliterated.

Figures

FIGURES 56 – 58. Albia ilikensis n. sp., holotype female: 56. Dorsal view; 57. Ventral view; 58. Palp. Scale bars = 50 µm.