Axonopsis Piersig, 1893

Asadi, Mahdieh, Pešić, Vladimir & Etemadi, Isa, 2010, A revised survey of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Iran: new synonyms and descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 2628, pp. 43-55 : 49-54

Genus Axonopsis Piersig, 1893

Axonopsis (Hexaxonopsis) iranica Peši ć & Asadi n. sp. ( Fig. 4A–G , 6A–B )

Diagnosis. Colour pattern consisting of a light-reddish elongated central area ( Figs. 6A–B ); anterior portion of dorsal shield with an ill-defined semicircular median ridge, forming sunken, elliptical area as indicated in Figure 4A ; two pairs of glandularia lying between the genital field and insertions of the IV-L, the posterior pair of glandularia lying between the genital field and insertions of the IV-L closely approaching the genital field; without a ridge on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L; II-, III- and IV-L with swimming setae (II-L-5, 2; III-L-4, 2; III-L-5, 2–3; IV-L-4, 2; IV-L-5, 3).

Description. Male (holotype, in parentheses some measurements of paratypes): dorsal and ventral shields anteriorly fused; dorsal shield L 381 (363), W 305 (291); dorsal shield with seven pairs of glandularia (the seventh pair inconspicuous, flanking the excretory pore); postocularia well distanced from anterior margin; eye pigment well developed; excretory pore located at posterior end of dorsal shield; ventral shield ( Fig. 4B ) L 378 (384–405), W (339), slightly truncate at anterior end, lateral margins rounded; tips of Cx-I and -II produced into pointed, recurved, hook-like projections; capitular bay L 106; without a ridge on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L; three pairs of Ac, arranged in an arc; width between most lateral pair of Ac 105 (97–99); gonopore W 24 (23); ejaculatory complex ( Fig. 4F ) L 103; palp ( Figs. 4C–D ): total L 209, dL and %L: P-1, 32 (15.3); P-2, 49 (23.4); P-3, 27 (12.9); P-4, 78 (37.3); P-5, 23 (11.0); L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.63; ventral margin of P-2 convex, distal margin of P-3 with well developed hyaline extensions, middle of ventral side of P-4 expanded, bearing a hair-like setae lying on a small pointed tubercle; chelicera total L 92; capitulum ventral L 82. Legs: L of I-L-4-6 ( Fig. 4E ): 60, 75, 80; L of IV-L: 54, 75, 63, 72, 94; 95; swimming setae numbers: II-L-5, 2; III-L-4, 2; III-L-5, 2-3; IV-L-4, 2; IV-L-5 3.

Female: similar to male except for the shape of the genital field ( Fig. 4G ); dorsal shield L 391, W 300; ventral shield L 434 (413–416), W (352–356); capitular bay L 106; width between most lateral pair of Ac 144 (132–149); gonopore relatively large, W 100 (84–88); egg diameter maximum L (n=2) 109–116, palp: total L 208, dL and %L (in parentheses): P-1, 33 (15.9); P-2, 49 (23.6); P-3, 29 (13.9); P-4, 74 (35.6); P-5, 23 (11.1); L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.66; chelicera total L 120; capitulum ventral L 85. Legs: L of I-L-3–6: 52, 66, 68; L of IV-L: 52, 71, 62, 72, 80, 79; palp chaetotaxy and swimming setae numbers as in male.

Etymology. The species is named for its occurrence in Iran.

Remarks. Due to the absence of a ridge on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L, the lack of lateral projections on the sides of the ventral shield as well as the similar colour pattern of the dorsum and similar morphology of palp, the new species resembles Axonopsis bharatensis known from Maharashtra State in India ( Cook 1967). Axonopsis iranica sp. nov., can be distinguished from A. bharatensis in the presence of an anterior sunken, elliptical area as shown in Figure 6A–B .

On the other hand, due to the development of a semicircular ridge in the anterior part of the dorsal shield and the rather similar colour pattern, the new species resemble Axonopsis niraensis Cook, 1967 (Maharashtra State, India) but the latter differs in possessing a short ridge on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L and P-4 proportionally somewhat narrower bearing one hair-like and one relatively heavy seta (see Cook 1967).

Distribution. Iran.

Axonopsis (Hexaxonopsis) manoojani Peši ć & Asadi n. sp. ( Figs. 5A–E , 6C–D )

Type series. Holotype: female, dissected and slide-mounted in Hoyer’s medium, Iran, Kerman Province, Manoojan City, Kandoti dam, pool of stream, 27°21'N 57°42'E, May 2010, leg. Etemadi. Paratypes: 0/2/0, same data as holotype, preserved in Koenike’s medium.

Diagnosis. Anterior portion of dorsal shield with two to four small, pointed, posteriorly directed processes on each side; lateral margins of ventral shield with a small blunt projection on each side considerably posterior to the insertions of the IV-L; tips of Cx-I and -II produced into pointed, recurved, hook-like projections; two pairs of glandularia lying between the genital field and insertions of the IV-L, these relatively close together; a relatively short ridge present on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L; II-, III- and IV-L with swimming setae (II-L-5, 2; III-L-4, 2-3; III-L-5, 5–6; IV-L-4, 2; IV-L-5 3).

Description. Female (holotype, in parentheses some measurements of paratypes): dorsal and ventral shields anteriorly fused; dorsal shield L 394 (394), W 295 (294); dorsal shield with seven pairs of glandularia (the seventh pair inconspicuous, flanking the excretory pore); postocularia well distanced from anterior margin; dorsal shield colour indistinct; eye pigment well developed; excretory pore projecting; ventral shield ( Fig. 5B ) oval, slightly truncate at anterior end, lateral margins rounded, L 384 (392), W 388 (341); small blunt projection on ventral shield hardly visible in the holotype due to squeezing as a result of mounting, but well visible in the non-mounted material—see Fig. 6D ; capitular bay L 105; three pairs of Ac, arranged in an arc; width between most lateral pair of Ac 129 (112); gonopore relatively large, W 72 (68); egg maximum diameter L (n=2) 100–108; palp ( Figs. 5C–D ): total L 191, dL and %L: P-1, 28 (14.7); P-2, 44 (23.0); P-3, 24 (12.6); P-4, 70 (36.7); P-5, 25 (13.1); L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.63; ventrodistal margin of P-2 convexly rounded, P-4 with a hair-like seta on the ventral side; chelicera total L 109; capitulum ventral L 85. Legs: L of I-L-4–6 ( Fig. 5E ): 52, 66, 67; L of IV-L: 49, 62, 59, 71, 88, 88; swimming setae numbers: II-L-5, 2; III-L-4, 2–3; III-L-5, 5– 6; IV-L-4, 2; IV-L-5, 3.

Etymology. The species is named after Manoojan, where this species was collected.

Remarks. Due to the presence of the spine–like projections on the dorsal shield, a short ridge on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L, and small projections on the lateral margin of the ventral shield, the new species resembles Axonopsis falcifer Cook, 1967 , a rhitrobiontic species known from Maharashtra State ( India, Cook 1967). Compared with A. manoojani sp. nov., A. falcifer differs in possessing a higher number of posteriorly-directed, spine-like processes on each side of the dorsal shield (approximately 10 vs. only three or four in A. manoojani ), more spine-like processes associated with the first and second coxae and the presence of a heavy seta on the ventral side of P-4. A further difference is the colour pattern in A. falcifer (see Cook 1967).

Distribution. Iran.

Figures

FIGURE 4 A – G. Axonopsis iranica Pešiċ & Asadi n. sp. (A – F = male, G = female): A = dorsal shield; B, G = ventral shield; C = palp (P- 1 missing); D = palp; E = I-L- 5 and – 6; F = ejaculatory complex. Scale bars = 100 μm.

FIGURE 6 A – D. A – B Axonopsis iranica Pešiċ & Asadi n. sp. (A = male, B = female): A – B = dorsal shield; C – D Axonopsis manoojani Pešiċ & Asadi n. sp., female: C = dorsal shield; D = idiosoma, ventral view (arrow showing the small projection on the lateral margin of the ventral shield).

FIGURE 5 A – E. Axonopsis manoojani Pešiċ & Asadi n. sp., female: A = dorsal shield; B = ventral shield (arrow showing the small projection on the lateral margin of the ventral shield); C – D = palp; E = I-L- 5 and – 6. Scale bars = 100 μm.