Djeboa expansipalpis (Cook, 1966)

Pešić, Vladimir, Cook, David, Gerecke, Reinhard & Smit, Harry, 2013, The water mite family Mideopsidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia): a contribution to the diversity in the Afrotropical region and taxonomic changes above species level, Zootaxa 3720 (1), pp. 1-75 : 35

Djeboa expansipalpis (Cook, 1966)

( Figs. 19A–F , 37F )

Mideopsis (Djeboa) expansipalpis Cook 1966: 232 .

Material examined: Type series: FMC, Liberia; holotype female, Bomi Hills Road, stream at bridge 132, 31.i.1958, Cook (Coll. 93); paratypes: same data as holotype, 2/2/0; Coll. 50, 0/1/0; Coll. 74, 0/1/0; Coll. 86, 0/1/0; Coll. 88 0/1/0; Coll.92, 1/2/0; Coll. 95, 1/0/0 (for details see Cook 1966).

New records: Côte d’Ivoire, River N’zi near Tinbé, (T) drift day, 11.vii.1977 Statzner 0/1/0 (mounted).

General features: Dorsal shield oval (L/W ratio 1.1–1.2), with medial depression; muscle scars anterior and posterior to postocularia with well pronounced thickenings; second pair of muscle scars extending to the edge of dorsal depression ( Fig. 37F ); central portion of dorsal shield purple; gnathosomal bay V-shaped; tips of Cx-I ending slightly posterior to frontal margin; medial margins of Cx-IV reduced to a median angle and well separated from each other; posterior margin of Cx-IV extending posterolaterally. Palp ( Fig. 19D ): P-1 with a dorsal seta; P-2 strongly inflated, with straight ventral and convexly bowed dorsal margin; P-3 much higher proximally than ventrally, ventral margin slightly concave, dorsal margin strongly convex; P-4 slender, basally thickened, from here to anterior tip equally narrowed. Legs: I-L ( Fig. 19E ) with I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.0, ventral margin distally convexly protruding; IV-L: Fig. 19F .

Discussion: The present species is similar to Djeboa compressa K. Viets, 1914 in shape of idiosoma and palp (P-1 with dorsal seta, P-4 slender, much longer than high) but differs in dorsal muscle scars, more pronounced and purple rather than blue, central portion of dorsal shield, the medial margins of Cx-IV more distanced from each other, and P-3 even more expanded and lacking the characteristic dorsal indentation.

Distribution: Liberia; first record from Côte d’Ivoire.

Figures

FIGURE 19 A – F. Djeboa expansipalpis (Cook, 1966) (B = male, A, C – E = female): A = dorsal shield; B – C = idiosoma, ventral view; D = palp; E = I-L; F = IV-L.

FIGURE 37 A – L. Photographs of dorsal shield. A – B. Djeboa amendano sp. nov.: A — holotype male; B — paratype female. C. Djeboa curtipalpis sp. nov., holotype male. D. Djeboa depressa sp. nov., holotype male. E. Djeboa compressa K. Viets, 1914, female lectotype (SMF 43190). F. Djeboa expansipalpis (Cook, 1966), female, Tinbé, Côte d’Ivoire. G. Djeboa gledhilli. sp. nov., holotype male. H. Djeboa ghanaensis sp. nov., holotype male. I – J. Djeboa angulipalpis sp. nov.: I — holotype male; J — paratype female. K – L. Djeboa mandena sp. nov.: K— holotype male; L — paratype female.