Arrenurus (Micruracarus) abyssinicus, Smit, 2012

Smit, H., 2012, New records of the water mite family Arrenuridae from the Afrotropical region, with the description of 11 new species and two new subspecies (Acari: Hydrachnidia), Zootaxa 3187, pp. 1-31 : 15-17

Arrenurus (Micruracarus) abyssinicus n. sp.

( Figs. 36–39)

Material examined. Holotype male, marsh near Lake Awasa , Awasa, Ethiopia, 7° 02.964 N 38° 27.621 E, alt. 1684 m a.s.l., 3-xi-2006 ( RMNH).

Diagnosis. Petiole tube-like, with the upper margin with die-like sclerotized structure.

Description. Male: Idiosoma brownish, 903 long and 729 wide. Dorsal shield complete, 502 long and 486 wide. Anterior idiosoma margin straight, cauda not set off from anterior idiosoma part. Posterior cauda margin with a large, wide cleft. Petiole hyaline, tube-like, upper margin of tube with a die-like sclerotized structure. Anterior coxal plates not extending to anterior idiosoma margin. Medial distance of fourth coxal plates relatively wide. Gonopore 54 long. Genital plates long and very narrow; posterior of the dorsal shield two isolated parts of the genital plates present. Lengths of PI-PV: 38, 72, 50, 106, 52; PII medially with four setae. Lengths of I-leg-4-6: 132, 138, 140. Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 160, 140, 156.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology. Named after Abyssinia, the old name of Ethiopia.

Remarks. The new species is close to A. voeltzkowi Koenike, 1898 and differs in the shape of the petiole (upper margin of petiole with a pointed sclerotized structure) and the shape of the idiosoma (cauda distinctly set off from anterior idiosoma margin). Other similar species are A. exaratus Lundblad, 1956 (petiole more widened posteriorly, sclerotized structure of upper margin of petiole knob-like) and A. forcipetiolatus Walter, 1922 (petiole more widened posteriorly, sclerotized structure of upper margin of petiole rounded).