Euphthiracarus protrusus, Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2012

Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2012, Six new species of the genus Euphthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Euphthiracaridae) from China, Zootaxa 3481, pp. 47-59 : 54-56

Euphthiracarus protrusus sp. nov.

( Figs. 16–19 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult (in alcohol, W-91-6), China: Fujian Province, Jiangle County, Longqishan Mt. (26°16'28.27"N, 117°38'40.70"E), from litter, 26 Jun., 1991, leg. Xiao-Mei Zhang. Paratypes: six adults (in alcohol, W-91-6), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The new specific name “ protrusus ” is Latin for “protrude” and refers to the shape of rostrum.

Measurements: Holotype: Prodorsum: length 270, width 190, height 120, setae: ss 80, ro 65, in 120, le 80, ex 16, distance between setae: ro–ro 37, in–in 100, le–le 46, in–le 195, le–ro 55; notogaster: length 520, width 350, height 355; setae: c1 90, c2 95, c3 80, c p 90, d1 80, d2 80, e1 90, e2 82, h1 95, h2 90, h3 95, ps1 80, ps2 85, ps3 85; distance between setae: c1–d1 135, d1–e1 120, e1–h1 110, h1–ps1 110; ventral region: genitoaggenital plate 210×85, anoadanal plate 250×75. Paratypes: Prodorsum: length 290–330, width 195–240, height 112–115; notogaster: length 550–700, width 360–455, height 370–480.

Colour yellowish to brown. Surface of body covered with small foveolae, except region between lateral carinae of prodorsum with peculiar reticulation.

Rostrum of prodorsum distinctly protruded from lateral view, but not distinctly from dorsal view; two pairs of lateral carinae present, upper carina strong, lower one indistinct, mixed with reticulation between two lateral carinae; sensilla with narrow pedicel and dilated head, truncate distally and covered with robust spines; interlamellar setae long, robust, erect, covered with spines in distal half; lamellar setae similar in shape to interlamellar setae, sparsely barbed in distal half; rostral setae smooth, semi-erect and spiniform; exobothridial setae short and fine; comparative length: in>le = ss> ro>ex.

Notogaster setae similar in shape to lamellar setae, sparsely barbed in distal half; setae c1-3 remote from anterior border, setae c1 slightly more so than setae c2 and c3; vestigial setae f1 located anteriorly of setae h1; arrangement of opisthosomal glands and lyrifissures typical for genus.

Genital plates each with nine setae, g1–4 located in progenital position, g1–3 short and fine, g4 thick, other setae thick and slightly longer; two pairs of aggenital setae present, ag1 minute, ag2 about twice as long and thick as ag1; setae an1 and an2 smooth and flagellate at distal end, setae an3 and adanal setae shorter, robust and covered with small and sparse spines in distal half; lyrifissures iad situated between setae an3 and ad3.

Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them; palps three-segmented with setal formula: 2-2-8(1); chaetotaxy of legs (without tarsi): I: 1-3-5(2)-5(1); II: 1-4-3(1)-5(1), III: 2-2-2(1)-2(1), IV: 2-1-1(1)-2(1); all legs heterotridactylous.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Remark. This new species is similar to E. takahashii Aoki, 1980 in having similar shape of sensilla, but differs from the latter species by following characters: surface between lateral carinae with peculiar reticulation, mixed with lower carina; rostrum of prodorsum distinctly protruded; rostral setae smooth, semi-erect and spiniform, not bent distally; length of notogastral setae not heterotrichous; posterior four genital setae not much longer than anterior. This new species is also similar to E. minimus sp. nov., but can be easily distinguished from the latter species by following characters: two pairs of lateral carinae present, lower one indistinct, mixed with reticulation between two lateral carinae; surface of notogaster covered with foveolae; ag1 minute, ag2 about twice as long and thick as ag1. In addition, these two species also differ from each other by the shape of rostrum.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 19. Euphthiracarus protrusus sp. nov.: 16, lateral view of body (legs removed); 17, prodorsum, dorsal view; 18, sensillum; 19, ventral plates. Scale bars: 16 – 17, 19 = 100 μm; 18 = 50 μm.