Testudacarus dennetti O'Neill & Dowling

O'Neill, Joseph C., Fisher, J. Ray, Nelson, Whitney A., Skvarla, Micheal J., Fisher, Danielle M. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2016, Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae) with descriptions of 13 new species from North America, ZooKeys 582, pp. 13-110 : 52-55

Taxon classification Animalia Trombidiformes Torrenticolidae

Testudacarus dennetti O'Neill & Dowling sp. n.

Type series.

Holotype (1♀): Pennsylvania, USA: 1♀ from Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park, Laurel Run, fishing access #2 off T798 (Meadow Run Rd) Ohiopyle State Park (39°50'58.00"N, 79°30'51.00"W), 10 August 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS14-0810-005 (Specimen 143645 - DNA#2071); Paratypes (8♀, 7♂): Mississippi, USA: (allotype) 1♂ from Tishomingo County, Tishomingo State Park, Rocky Quarry Branch, beside road just outside park entrance (34°36'43.00"N, 88°12'4.00"W), 20 September 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090115 (Specimen 146784 - DNA#2202); 3♀ and 4♂ from Tishomingo County, Tishomingo State Park, Rocky Quarry Branch, beside road just outside park entrance (34°36'43.00"N, 88°12'4.00"W), 20 September 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090115; 2♀ and 2♂ from Tishomingo County, Tishomingo State Park, Rocky Quarry Branch, (34°36 ’” N, 88°11'W), 18 September 1991, by IM Smith, IMS910049; Pennsylvania, USA: 2♀ from Fayette County, State Game Lands #51, Dunbar Creek, off Furnace Hill Road east of Dunbar (39°57'50.00"N, 79°35'8.70"W), 10 August 2014, MJ Skvarla, MS14-0810-001; Alabama, USA: 1♀ from DeKalb County, Desoto State Park, beside Trail Y (Yellow) (34°29'N, 85°32'W), 26 September 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920053A.

Type deposition.

Holotype (1♀), allotype (1♂), and six paratypes (3♀, 3♂) deposited at CNC; eight paratypes (5♀, 3♂) at ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Both Testudacarus dennetti and Testudacarus dawkinsi have dorsal plates with uniform pores (unlike Testudacarus hitchensi ) and anterio-lateral platelets with color restricted to the posterior half (unlike Testudacarus harrisi ). However, they can be distinguished based on size. Testudacarus dennetti females and males have dorsal lengths less than 575 and 450 µm, respectively. Testudacarus dawkinsi females and males have dorsal lengths greater than 600 and 475 µm, respectively.

Description.

Female (n=9) with characteristics of the genus with following specifications.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum [139-152 ventral length; 85-97 dorsal length; 85-91 tall] ovoid with short rostrum. Chelicerae [117-126 long] unmodified with lightly curved fangs [24-28 long]. Pedipalp [168-189 long] unmodified. Trochanter [23-27 long; 28-31 wide]. Femur [42-52 long; 33-35 wide]. Genu [35-41 long; 25-32 wide]. Tibia [45-52 long; 17-22 wide]. Tarsus [18-20 long; 8-12 wide].

Dorsum (Fig. 28) - [473-558 long; 368-429 wide] round to ovoid. Dorsal plate [348-459 long; 353-442 wide]. Primary sclerotization [319-400 long]. Dorso-glandularia-4 [121-150 apart] lateral to [16-41] and around the anterior tips of muscle scars. Platelets violet to blue or colorless. Anterio-medial platelet [115-128 long; 65-83 wide] colorless rounded trapezoid noticeably smaller than anterio-lateral platelets. Anterio-lateral platelets [150-171 long; 68-78 wide] with violet to blue restricted to posterior half or third of the platelet. Lateral platelets as follows: lateral-1 [36-48 long; 29-44 wide]; lateral-2 [96-129 long; 24-37 wide]; lateral-3 [26-44 long; 14-27 wide]; lateral-4 [68-95 long; 19-39 wide]; lateral-5 [39-56 long; 13-32 wide]; lateral-6 [65-81 long; 16-34 wide]; lateral-7 [42-69 long; 15-30 wide].

Venter (Fig. 28) - [627-738 long; 411-474 wide] round to ovoid. Primary sclerotization [534-600 long] violet to blue. Gnathosomal bay [61-70 dorsal length; 125-142 ventral length; 48-57 wide]. Coxal field [406-438 long; 286-320 wide]. Coxa-I [216-236 long; 89-103 midlength]. Coxa-II + III [103-116 distance to top of coxa-II; 164-171 distance to top of coxa-III; 298-321 distance to bottom of coxa-III; 195-208 total length]. Coxa-IV [281-301 distance to top; 125-142 total length]. Genital field [279-304 distance to top; 416-455 distance to bottom; 137-151 total length; 110-123 width; 149-170 distance from gnathosomal bay; 54-75 distance from coxa-I; 160-185 distance to excretory pore; 211-295 distance to caudad]. Distance to excretory pore [581-640].

Legs - violet to blue and orange. Total leg and podomere lengths as follows: Leg-I [431-463 total; trochanter 48-58; basifemur 70-78; telofemur 59-65; genu 77-84; tibia 85-93; tarsus 81-88]. Leg-II [455-487 total; trochanter 51-56; basifemur 72-79; telofemur 57-64; genu 80-88; tibia 92-102; tarsus 98-109]. Leg-III [538-572 total; trochanter 54-59; basifemur 73-83; telofemur 62-67; genu 95-106; tibia 114-127; tarsus 128-134]. Leg-IV [641-768 total; trochanter 84-89; basifemur 96-115; telofemur 102-110; genu 137-144; tibia 147-163; tarsus 142-158].

Male (n=7) similar to female except for sexually dimorphic characters previously discussed and with following specifications.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum [125-134 ventral length; 80-86 dorsal length; 74-83 tall]. Chelicerae [100-115 long]. Fangs [24-28 long]. Pedipalp [164-179 long]. Trochanter [22-24 long; 26-29 wide]. Femur [44-50 long; 30-35 wide]. Genu [36-43 long; width 25-28 wide]. Tibia [44-49 long; 17-20 wide]. Tarsus [17-19 long; 9-10 wide].

Dorsum (Fig. 29) - [408-440 long; 333-351 wide]. Dorsal plate [333-370 long; 268-305 wide]. Dorso-glandularia-4 [98-131 apart] lateral to [15-32] and far anterior to [46-62] muscle scars. Anterio-medial platelet [104-123 long; 60-66 wide]. Anterio-lateral platelets [133-153 long; 59-69 wide]. Lateral platelets as follows: lateral-1 [29-35 long; 25-31 wide]; lateral-2 [80-101 long; 24-32 wide]; lateral-3 [27-35 long; 18-21 wide]; lateral-4 [56-78 long; 21-28 wide]; lateral-5 [32-42 long; 20-25 wide]; lateral-6 [46-54 long; 23-25 wide]; lateral-7 [30-47 long; 19-23 wide].

Venter (Fig. 29) - [537-570 long; 352-370 wide]. Primary sclerotization [498-536 long]. Gnathosomal bay [55-61 dorsal length; 110-129 ventral length; 42-53 wide]. Coxal field [378-417 long; 275-292 wide]. Coxa-I [195-219 long; 80-95 midlength]. Coxa-II + III [84-103 distance to top of coxa-II; 141-165 distance to top of coxa-III; 299-327 distance to bottom of coxa-III; 215-236 total length]. Coxa-IV [261-284 length to top; 117-133 total length]. Genital field [322-341 distance to top; 443-471 distance to bottom; 121-130 total length; 96-103 width; 207-222 distance from gnathosomal bay; 120-136 distance from coxa-I; 54-66 distance to excretory pore; 85-100 distance to caudad]. Genital skeleton [152-169 long; 80-95 wide]. Distance to excretory pore [498-536].

Legs - total leg and podomere lengths as follows: Leg-I [414-434 total; trochanter 47-54; basifemur 67-73; telofemur 55-62; genu 72-79; tibia 81-85; tarsus 79-85]. Leg-II [432-450 total; trochanter 48-54; basifemur 66-72; telofemur 54-61; genu 73-80; tibia 88-91; tarsus 96-99]. Leg-III [478-525 total; trochanter 49-58; basifemur 66-76; telofemur 58-64; genu 83-93; tibia 102-114; tarsus 114-126]. Leg-IV [658-685 total; trochanter 76-86; basifemur 85-103; telofemur 90-100; genu 124-130; tibia 140-141; tarsus 133-140].

Etymology.

Specific epithet dennetti after Daniel Clement Dennett III, the American philosopher, writer, and cognitive scientist. Dennett’s work has been the focus of many late night debates in close social circles just as he adds the necessary philosophical spice to the New Athiests.

Distribution.

Eastern United States east of the Mississippi River, with southern limits in Florida.