Yunkeracarus rattus 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 : 107-108

3. Yunkeracarus rattus Bochkov et OConnor sp. nov.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Body, including gnathosoma, 360 long (350–365 in 8 paratypes), 175 wide (170–175). Propodonotal shield with widely rounded posterior margin, length 54 (52–55), maximum width 60 (60–62). Setae si 35 (32–40), 1.3–1.5 shorter than se 52 long (50–52), respectively. Distance se–se 57 (55–58), about 5–6 times greater than si–si, 10 (10–13). Bursa copulatrix opening dorsal. Sternum about 22 long. Posterior projections of coxal fields I very short and wide, about 9 long, 17 wide. Distance between distal ends of apodemes II about 20. Two pairs of distinct folds present ventrally on propodosoma posterior to coxal fields II. Distance 4a–4a 32 (30–48), about 1.4–1.6 times greater than ps3–ps3, 22 (22–30). Alveoli of setae h1 and h3 absent. Legs III and IV subequal in length, about 125 and 130 long, respectively (excluding pretarsus). Setae cG I–II microspines, about 2 long. Setal lengths: 1a 15 (13–16), c3 20 (18–22), cp 40 (35– 44), h2 about 130, vF I 25 (23–26), vF II 35 (30–37), mG I–II about 40, gT I–II 2–3, solenidia ϕI–II about 11, ω 1 I–II about 9.

MALE (3 paratypes). Body, including gnathosoma, 310–335 long, 135–150 wide. Propodonotum as in female. Propodonotal shield 52–55 long, 56–60maximum wide. Setae si, 27–28 long, 1.4 times shorter than se, 39–40 long. Distance se–se 45–52, about 5 times greater than si–si, 9–10. 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 18. 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 and width of postgenital shield subequal, about 32. Distance g–g 18–20, about 1.4 times greater than ps3–ps3, 13–17. Alveoli of setae h1 and h3 absent. Legs III and IV subequal in length, about 110 and 125 long (excluding pretarsus), respectively. Setae cG I–II microspines, about 2 long. Setal lengths: 1a about 13, c3 17–18, cp 28–30, h2 about 125, vF I 22, vF II 27, mG I–II about 27, gT I–II 2–3, solenidia ϕI–II about 10, ω 1 I–II about 7.

Type material examined. Female holotype and 1 male paratype ( BMOC 95-0203 - 026 ) ex Rattus rattus (L.) ( Muridae ) ( FMNH 154275 ), MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana, Réserve Spécial d’Anjanaharibe-Sud, 9.2km WSW Befingotra, 1260m, 24º47'S, 47º12"E, 4 November 1994, coll. S.M. Goodman ( SMG 6920 ); 6 female, 2 male, 1 tritonymph, and 1 larva paratypes ( BMOC 89-1600 - 036 ) ex same host ( USNM 578831 ), MADAGASCAR: Toliara, Fiv. de Tolagnaro , Ste. Luce Forest , 2–3 km NW Manafiafy, 20m, 24º47'S, 47º12"E, 8 October 1989, coll. G.K. Creighton ( GKC 3073 ) .

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

Host range and distribution. This species is known only from the type host ( Rattus rattus ) from Madagascar, where the host was introduced by human activity. We have flushed nasal passages of numerous specimens of R. rattus from the African mainland, and those of other Rattus species from Asia without recovering this species. Since we have not recovered Yunkeracarus mites from any native rodent species in Madagascar, it seems likely this species will ultimately be recovered from R. rattus in other parts of its range.

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

Remarks. This new species is very close to Y. apomys . In both of these species setae cG I are microspines, setae si are distinctly (1.5–2 times) shorter than se and situated close to each other, distance si–si is 5–6 times shorter than se–se, setae c3 is about two times shorter than cp; in females, the bursa copulatrix opens dorsally; in males the posterior end of the aedeagus is situated at the level of setae 4a. It differs from Y. apomys by the following characters. In females of Y. rattus , the length of the body, including the gnathosoma, is 350–365, setae 1a are 13–16 long, setae c3 are 18–22 long, setae cp are 2.3–2.7 times longer than c3, the posterior projections of coxal fields I are about 2.1 times wider than long; in males, the length of the body, including the gnathosoma, is 310–335. In females of Y. apomys , the length of the body, including the gnathosoma, is 370– 390, setae 1a are 9–13 long, setae c3 are 11–16 long, setae cp are 1.9–2.3 times longer than c3, the posterior projections of coxal fields I are about 1.4 times wider than long; in males, the length of the body, including the gnathosoma, is 360.