Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) distinctus, Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2014

Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2014, New species of Atropacarus (Hoplophorella), (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) from the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 3774 (1) : -

Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) distinctus sp. nov.

( Figs. 2A–J )

Measurements of holotype. Prodorsum: length 240, width 159, height 126, sensillum 78, setae: in 43, le 35, ro 40, ex 15; notogaster: length 505, width 288, height 328, setae: c 1 66, c 2 /c 2 –d 1 = 0.8, h 1 76, p 1 63; genitoaggenital plate 126 x76, anoadanal plate 139 x73.

Description. Rather small species. Colour dark brown. Surface of body well sclerotized.

Prodorsum ( Figs. 2A–C ) with remarkable median crista; lateral carinae short but distinct; sigillar fields weakly marked, dorsal one narrow in proximal part and broadened in distal part under rostral setae, longer than laterals; posterior furrows present; sensilli long with narrow stalk and spindle shaped head, densely spinose (ca 20 cilia) at one side; interlamellar, lamellar and rostral setae needle-like, rough, exobothridial setae filiform, the shortest.

Notogaster ( Figs. 2D–E ) with a pair of longitudinal, rolled dorsal cristae and posteriorly with two pairs of strong tubercules; 15 pairs of fine flagelliform setae, ventral setae c 2, d 2 and e 2 situated at unusual dorsal position, setae c 1 and c 3 positioned near anterior border, setae c 2 remote from border, considerably more posterior than setae c 1 and c 3, two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present, vestigial setae f 1 not discernible because of strong microsculpture.

Ventral region ( Figs. 2F–I ) setae h of mentum vestigial; formula of genital setae: 4: 5; setae of anoadanal plates short and obtuse, setae ad 2 the longest, setae ad 3 the shortest.

Leg chaetome complete, setae d of femora I slightly remote from distal end of article.

Material examined. Holotype is deposited at DATE. Locus typicus: MAG-032, Madagascar, Ambohitantely Special Reserve, 19. IV. 2011, 18 °11'31,0" S, 47°17'06,9" E, altitude 1620m, secondary forest, sifting sample of forest litter, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S.Rahanitriniaina, one paratype is deposited in ISB from localities: MAG-029 Madagascar, Ambohitantely Special Reserve, 19. IV. 2011, 18 °11'02,5" S, 47°17'12,9" E, altitude 1577m, sifting sample of forest litter, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S.Rahanitriniaina.

Etymology. The Latin name distinctus means "distinguished” and refers to the easy distinguishable morphological characters of new species.

Comparison. Some species of subgenus Hoplophorella which have the same filiform and flagellate shape of setae are known to exist in the Afrotropical region, but the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the shape of its notogasters, which have two longitudinal, rolled dorsal cristae and posteriorly with two pairs of strong tubercules and by the unusual, dorsal position of the setae c 2, d 2 and e 2.

Figures

FIGURE 2 A – J. Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) distinctus sp. nov. (holotype and paratype). A, prodorsum, dorsal view, B, prodorsum, dorsal view (paratype), C, prodorsum, lateral view, D, opisthosoma, lateral view, E, dorsal view of body, F, genitoaggenital plate, G, anterior part of genitoaggenital plate, H, anoadanal plate, I, mentum of subcapitulum, J, trochanter and femur of leg I.