Yunkeracarus otomys Bochkov

Bochkov, Andre V., Zabludovskaya, Svetlana & Oconnor, Barry M., 2008, Phylogeny and systematics of the endoparasitic astigmatid mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) of mammals: families Gastronyssidae, Lemurnyssidae, and Pneumocoptidae, Zootaxa 1951 (1), pp. 1-152 : 117-118

7. Yunkeracarus otomys Bochkov et OConnor sp. nov.

( Fig. 62 )

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Body, including gnathosoma, 380 long (370–380 in 5 paratypes), 200 wide (175–200). Propodonotal shield with widely rounded posterior margin, length 57 (52–58), maximum width 65 (55–65). Propodonotal region covered by rectangular-like ornamentation. Setae si and se subequal in length, 18 (18–20) and 19 long (19–22), respectively. Distance se–se 70 (65–72), 5–6 times greater than si–si, 11 (8–12). Bursa copulatrix opening terminal. Sternum about 22 long. Posterior projections of coxal fields I distinctly developed, about 9 long, 17 wide. Distance between distal ends of apodemes II about 35. Two pairs of distinct folds present ventrally on propodosoma posterior to coxal fields II. Distance 4a–4a 40 (30–40), subequal or 1.1–1.5 times greater than ps3–ps3, 25 (22–30). Alveoli of setae h1 and h3 absent. Legs III and IV subequal in length, about 135 and 160 long, respectively (excluding pretarsus). Setae cG I–II microspines, about 2 long. Setal lengths: 1a 10 (10–12), c3 17 (13–17), cp 17 (13–18), h2 150 (140–160), vF I–II about 18, mG I–II about 27, gT I–II about 3, solenidia ϕI–II about 10, ω 1 I–II about 9.

MALE (2 paratypes): Body, including gnathosoma, 350–355 long, 157–165 wide. Propodonotum as in female. Propodonotal shield 52–55 long, 53-55 maximum wide. Setae si and se subequal in length, 15–18 and 17–22 long, respectively. Distance se–se 57–60, about 4 times greater than si–si, 12–13. Sternum about 15 long. Posterior projections of coxal fields I very short and wide, about 9 long, 15 wide. Distance between distal ends of apodemes II about 22. Two pairs of distinct folds present ventrally on propodosoma posterior to coxal fields II. Aedeagus about 40 long, its posterior end situated at level of setae g. Length/width ratio of postgenital shield 1: 1.4, about 25 long, 35 wide. Distance g–g 22–23, about 2.5 times greater than ps3–ps3, 8–9. Alveoli of setae h1 and h3 absent. Legs III and IV subequal in length, about 125 and 135 long, respectively (excluding pretarsus). Setae cG I–II microspines, about 2 long. Setal lengths: 1a 12–13, c3 13–18, cp 15–23, h2 130–135, vF I–II about 17, mG I–II 30–35, gTI–II about 3, solenidia ϕI–II about 10, ω 1 I–II about 7.

Type material examined. Female holotype, 2 female, 2 male, and 1 tritonymph paratypes ( BMOC 91- 1350 - 114 ) ex Otomys typus Heuglin ( Muridae ) ( FMNH 144339 ) , UGANDA: Western Prov., Kasese Dist., Rwenzori Mts, Lake Bujuku , Bujuku Hut , 3950m, 6 May 1991, coll. J.C. Kerbis ( JCK 2192 ) ; 3 female paratypes ( BMOC 91-1350 - 115 ) ex O. typus ( FMNH 144340 ) , same locality, 6 May 1991, coll. J.C. Kerbis ( JCK 2193 ) .

Type deposition. Holotype and paratypes are deposited in FMNH, other paratypes in UMMZ.

Host range and distribution. This species is known only from the type host, Otomys typus, from Uganda.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the generic name of the host and is a noun in apposition.

Remarks. This new species is closely related to Y. apodemi . In both species, setae si and se are subequal, the distance si–si, is short, about five times shorter than se–se; setae cG I–II are microspines, about 2 long. It differs from Y. apodemi by the following characters. In both sexes of Y. otomys , the body length, including the gnathosoma, is 370–380 in females and 350–355 in males; in females, setae si and se are 18–20 and 19–22 long, respectively, setae c3 and cp are subequal in the length. In both sexes of Y. apodemi , the body length, including the gnathosoma, is 305–330 in females and 310–320 in males; in females, setae si and se are 26–35 and 26–30 long, respectively, setae cp are about 2 times longer than c3. The new species is also close to Y. lophuromys and differs from this species by the bursa copulatrix opening terminally, the short distance between setae si–si, 9–12 long, and by the subequal lengths of c3 and cp setae. In Y. lophuromys , the bursa copulatrix opens dorsally, the distance between setae si–si is relatively long, 20–25, and setae c3 are about 2 times shorter than cp.

Figures

FIGURE 62. Yunkeracarus otomys Bochkov et OConnor sp. nov. female (A–F). A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, tarsus I in ventral view; D, tarsus II in ventral view; E, tarsus III in ventral view; F, tarsus IV in ventral view. Male (G–I). G, fragment of propodonotum; H, fragment of opisthosoma in ventral view; I, aedeagus. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B, G, H), 50 µm (C–F, I).