Recifella (Eorecifella) fluviatilis, 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 : 223-226

Recifella (Eorecifella) fluviatilis n. sp.

( Figures 45–49 )

Material examined. Holotype male, River Kamp Walker, Abepura, Papua province, New Guinea, Indonesia, 2° 34.202 S 140° 38.886, alt. 144 m asl, 27-x-2011 (RMNH).

Diagnosis. Genital field with 10–11 pairs of acetabula. Legs without swimming setae, first and second legs without grooved setae; PIII with a little projecting distoventral extension; PIV very short, ventrally with a tubercle with a heavy seta; PV longer then PIV and pointed.

Description. Male: Colour yellowish, idiosoma 478 long and 458 wide. Dorsal and ventral shields present. Dorsal shield 421 long and 397 wide, with three pairs of glandularia. Gnathosomal bay subrectangular-shaped. Cx- I extending beyond anterior idiosoma margin. Apodemes of anterior coxal plates extending to anterior margin of third coxal plates, but not well visible. Suture lines of coxal plates indistinct. Gonopore 52 long. Genital field with 10–11 pairs of acetabula. Lengths of PI-PV: 14, 100, 46, 45, 48. PIII with a little projecting distoventral extension; PIV very short, ventrally with two hair-like setae and a large tubercle with a heavy, peg-like seta; PV long and pointed, with one claw. Lengths of I-leg-4–6: 86, 74, 92. First leg without grooved setae, but I-leg-5 medially with three larger setae and I-leg-4 medially with two larger seta. Lengths of IV-leg-4–6: 118, 126, 138 (till tip of segment); ventral margins with 3, 4 and 2 pinnate setae, respectively. Legs without swimming setae.

Female unknown.

Etymology. Named for its occurrence in a river.

Remarks. The new species differs from other species with a stocky palp, i.e. R. pinguipalpifera Wiles, 1997 from New Guinea and Australia, and R. crassipalpis Smit, 2007 from Australia, in the absence of a heavy seta on PII, absence of swimming setae, a relatively much shorter PIV and a more slender PV.

Figures

FIGURES 45 – 49. Recifella fluviatilis n. sp., holotype male: 45. Dorsal shield; 46. Ventral view; 47. Palp; 48. I-leg- 4 – 6; 49. IV-leg- 4 – 6. Scale bars = 50 µm.