Neocoprozercon europaeus, Fenďa, Peter & Mašán, Peter, 2012

Fenďa, Peter & Mašán, Peter, 2012, Neocoprozercon europaeus gen. nov., sp. nov., the first member of the family Coprozerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) in the Palaearctic Region, Zootaxa 3204, pp. 40-46 : 44-45

Neocoprozercon europaeus sp. nov.

( Figs 1–9 )

Diagnosis. The genus Neocoprozercon contains only the type species N. europaeus . The diagnosis of the species is therefore the same as that for the genus.

Description. Adult female

Dorsal idiosoma. ( Fig. 1 ). Idiosoma suboval, 252–299 μm long and 132–166 μm wide (n=25). Podonotal shield 123–145 μm long, with anterior and lateral margins not well defined, barely visible, shield very weakly sclerotised, almost smooth and with no reticulation on surface. Podonotum with at least 70–80 pairs of setae, some of them in marginal region situated outside the shield. Opisthonotum covered by soft cuticle, bearing some irregular remnant of opisthonotal shield in medial posterior area, and at least 80–90 pairs of setae. All setae simple, smooth and needle-like, somewhat thickened and subequal in length (15–17 μm), only setae j1 slightly shorter (10–12 μm) and setae z1 markedly shorter (5–7 μm) than other dorsal setae. Pore-like structures not well sclerotised, scarcely detectable; gland pores gdZ3 and gdZ5 prominent, slightly hypertrophied, inserted on small and subcircular platelets.

Ventral idiosoma. ( Fig. 2 ). Tritosternum with elongate trapezoidal base (length 13 μm) and paired laciniae; laciniae free from each other along entire length, 12–14 μm long. All shields weakly sclerotised, not well defined, surface smooth and unornamented. Presternal region without platelets or scutal elements. Sternal shield 50–60 μm long and 29–34 μm wide, with three pairs of subequal setae (10–12 μm); lateral margins irregulary sinuate; sternal pore-like structures and lyrifissures absent. Metasternal platelets suboval, subcircular or subtriangular, each with a seta (10–12 μm). Podal shields absent. Genital shield suboval, relatively small, 29–36 μm long and 27–31 μm wide, with a pair of setae (10–12 μm) placed on lateral edges of the shield; poroids iv5 on soft cuticle laterad the shield. Adgenital gland pores gv2 absent. Peritremes strongly reduced, 16–19 μm long; peritrematal shields with anterior and posterior margins rounded, located at the level of coxae IV. Metapodal shields narrow, slender, irregular, 14–19 μm in length. Opisthogastric and posteromarginal soft cuticle with 20–26 pairs of setae; medial area between genital and anal shields with seven pairs of setae (11–15 μm); setae laterad anal shield longer (15–20 μm). Anal shield more strongly sclerotised, subtriangular, slightly wider (55–62 μm) than long (50–55 μm); with paraanal setae (11–13 μm) nearly as long as postanal seta (12–16 μm); anal valve 15–20 μm long, cribrum restricted to subtriangular area of the shield behind postanal seta.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 3–5 ). Epistome subtriangular, with smooth central projection and anterior margin ( Fig. 3 ). Corniculi horn-like, well spaced, almost parallel; internal malae with lateral margins smooth and broadly acute apices extending beyond tips of corniculi ( Fig. 4 ). Subcapitular setae smooth, slender, the anteriormost pair of setae longer (13–15 μm) than the other three pairs of setae (6–7 μm). Fixed digit of chelicera with three teeth, movable digit with two teeth of similar size ( Fig. 5 ); dorsal cheliceral seta prominent (10 μm). Palp 95–110 μm in length, palpal chaetotaxy normal.

Legs. Excluding ambulacra, lengths of legs I–IV as follows: leg I 179–199 μm, leg II 121–145 μm, leg III 113– 144 μm, and leg IV 161–170 μm. Leg setae not elongated or enlarged as macrosetae. Leg chaetotactic formulae typical for family (see generic description above).

Male. Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 6 ). Idiosoma suboval, 221–251 μm long and 121–152 μm wide (n=11). Integument and shields weakly sclerotised, smooth, without specific sculpture on surface. Podonotal shield 109–124 μm long and 121–152 μm wide, posterior margin almost straight, with at least 65–75 pairs of setae; shield laterally more expanded than in female. Opisthonotal shield 106–126 μm long and 125–151 μm wide, bearing at least 65–80 pairs of setae. Size and form of dorsal setae as in female. Opisthonotal gland pores gdZ3 and gdZ5 similar to those of female but slightly larger, on circular areas of about 8–9 μm in diameter and slightly protruding above surrounding surface of the shield.

Ventral idiosomal ( Fig. 7 ). Sternogenital shield subrectangular, weakly sclerotised, lateral margins irregulary sinuated, 87–95 μm in length and 27–30 μm in width (at level of setae st2), anterior margin of genital opening behind the level of setae st1; setae st1–st4 subequal and 10–12 μm long, genital setae st5 slightly shorter (9–10 μm). Opisthogastric soft cuticle mostly with three pairs of setae (Jv1, Zv1, Zv2). Ventrianal shield suboval, oblong, 79–88 μm long and 50–59 μm wide, weakly defined, lateral margins irregulary sinuate, widely rounded anterolaterally and fused caudally to posterior margin of ventrally expanded dorsal shield; the shield bearing 3–4 pairs of ventral setae (Jv2, Jv3, Zv3 regularly on the shield, Jv4 mostly on lateral margins of the shield). Other characters as in female.

Gnathosoma . Epistome, subcapitulum, cheliceral structures, and palpi as in female.

Legs. Excluding ambulacra, lengths of legs I–IV as follows: leg I 165–187 μm, leg II 110–134 μm, leg III 103– 119 μm, and leg IV 129–148 μm.

Deutonymph. Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 8 ) Idiosoma suboval, 228–255 μm long (n=35), covered by two subequal shields, shields weakly sclerotised, not reticulated. Podonotal shield 117–127 μm long and 137–151 μm wide, with straight posterior margin and at least 55–65 pairs of setae. Opisthonotal shield 108–123 μm long and 130–144 μm wide, bearing at least 45–55 pairs of setae. Size and form of dorsal setae as in adults; opisthonotal gland pores gdZ3 and gdZ5 as in male.

Ventral idiosomal ( Fig. 9 ). Sternogenital shield 68–79 μm long and 27–34 μm wide, weakly sclerotised and not well defined, surface unornamented, lateral margins irregulary sinuate and interrupted behind setae st4; setae st5 on separate genital portion of the shield (length 19–23 μm, width 20–22 μm). Sternal setae st1–st5 short and subequal, 9–12 μm long. Peritremes normal, with anterior tip reaching close to anterior margin of coxa I; peritrematal shields well developed, especially in medial part; marginal setae r3 placed on peritrematal shields. Metapodal plates ribbon-shaped. Opisthogaster with weakly sclerotised ventral shield, shield 29–34 μm long and 49–54 μm wide, with three pairs of setae (Jv2, Jv3 and Zv3). Anal shield subtriangular, smooth, 37–45 μm in length and 47–54 μm in width; anal valves and cribrum as in adults. Soft opisthogastric cuticle with 3–6 pairs of ventral setae; opisthogastric setae similar in form and size to their homologues on adults.

Gnathosoma . Gnathosomal structures very similar to those in adults.

Legs. Excluding ambulacra, lengths of legs I–IV as follows: leg I 166–187 μm, leg II 115–131 μm, leg III 110– 126 μm, and leg IV 142–157 μm.

Type material. Slovakia. Holotype: female, Čierna hora Mts., Veľký Folkmar Village env., Veľká Hoľa Cave, 48°51′N, 21°03′E, 580 m a.s.l., 25 March 2009, powdery soil with litter from dysphotic (twilight) zone of the cave, leg. P. Fenďa. Paratypes: 19 females, 7 males, 28 deutonymphs, same data as in holotype; 5 females, 3 males, 7 deutonymphs, same site, 25 March 2009, powdery soil from aphotic zone of the cave, leg. P. Fenďa; 1 male, same site, 22 March 2002, individual collection on faeces of the european badger Meles meles (Linnaeus), leg. A. Mock. The type material is deposited at the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Etymology. The name of this species is derived from the Latin " europaeus " (European) and refers to its occurrence in the Europe.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Neocoprozercon europaeus sp. nov., female. 1. Dorsal idiosoma; 2. Ventral idiosoma; 3. Epistome; 4. Subcapitulum, ventral aspect; 5. Chelicera, lateral aspect. Scales: 50 μm: Figs 1, 2; 20 μm: Fig. 4; 10 μm: Figs 3, 5.

FIGURES 6 – 7. Neocoprozercon europaeus sp. nov., male. 6. Dorsal idiosoma; 7. Ventral idiosoma. Scale: 50 μm.

FIGURES 8 – 9. Neocoprozercon europaeus sp. nov., deutonymph. 8. Dorsal idiosoma; 9. Ventral idiosoma. Scale: 50 μm.