Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) beckeri Bader and Sepasgosarian, 1984

Esen, Yunus, 2021, A new record of the genus Sperchon (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Sperchontidae) from Turkey, Acarological Studies 3 (1), pp. 48-50 : 48-49

Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) beckeri Bader and Sepasgosarian, 1984 ( Figures 1-3 )

Specimens examined. Elazığ province ( Turkey), Alacakaya district, Halkalı Village, spring and low order streams, 38°32'44" N, 39°56'22" E, 1507 m a.s.l., 23.08.2020, (2/3/0) ; Elazığ province ( Turkey), Arıcak district , Akdağlar mountain, low order streams, 38°37'56" N, 40°08'00" E, 2145 m a.s.l., 05.07.2018, (4/8/1) . One male was dissected and slide-mounted in Hoyer’s fluid.

Diagnosis. Integument ventrocaudally with fine denticles arranged in hexagonal pattern, dorsum with six pair and one medially muschle attachment plates. Cx-I+II medially not fused, Cx-III without coxoglandularia. Excretory pore smooth. Capitulum with short rostrum, P-2 with well-developed finger-shaped ventrodistal projection; P-4 shorter than P-3, with two well developed ventral tubercles close to each other, each bearing peg-like and at the tip rounded setae, the proximal tubercle larger, located in the centre of the segment, the distal one minor, located in the distal part.

Description. Integument dorsally and ventrally with fine denticles arranged in a hexagonal pattern ( Fig. 3C ); these denticles laterally and caudally inflating to form small rounded papillae; these papillae regularly-arranged, in juveniles these papillae covered whole of dorsal surface ( Fig. 3A ). Dorsum with six pairs and one medially muscle attachment plates both males and females ( Fig. 1A ). Ventral view of Cx-I+II medially close to each other, but not fused ( Fig. 1B ). Cx-III without a medial glandular opening (Cxgl-4). Ac-1-2 longish, Ac-3 round. Posterior part of the venter with a small unpaired postgenital platelet. Excretory pore smooth. Capitulum ( Fig. 3D ) with short rostrum; palps ( Figs 1 C-D, 2A, 3D); P-1 without dorsal seta; P-2 distoventrally with a long projection at its tip bearing three fine setae, one long and two short; dorsally bearing about 18-20 stout setae, some of them plumose. P-3 bearing about 12 stout setae and 10 fine setae, all restricted to the dorsal part; P-4 shorter than P-3, with the two well developed ventral tubercles close to each other, each bearing peg-like, at the tip rounded setae, the proximal one larger, located in the centre of the segment, the distal one larger, located in the distal part; P-5 short, with strong distal claws; Leg segments slender, III-/IV-L with a few short, simple dorsal setae; ambulacrum with claw blade well protruding, bearing a long dorsal and a shorter ventral clawlet ( Fig. 1F ).

Male (n=3): Idiosoma L 552-770, W 489-661; distance between posterior edge of Cx-IV 432-533. Genital valves L 138-207, pregenital sclerite forming an acute triangle; L Ac-1–3 50-63, 55-80, 43-57; Capitulum L 202-321; chelicera ( Fig. 1E ) L 198-310, basal segment L 126-240 claw L 55-70, L ratio chelicerae basal segment/claw 3.42-3.60; palp ( Figs 1 C,D ) total L 443-577, dL: P-1, 20-22; P-2, 108- 124; P-3, 139-196; P-4, 135-188; P-5, 37-47; %L: P-1, 3.8- 4.5; P-2, 24.4-21.5; P-3, 31.4-34.0; P-4, 30.5-32.6; P-5, 8.1- 8.6; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.7-0.8. Leg segments L: I-Leg- 1-6: 60- 75, 62-80, 93-112, 138-179, 132-158, 120-146; IV-Leg-1- 6: 102-145, 106-134, 122-153, 237-298, 230-288, 207- 224.

Female (n=3): Idiosoma L 942-1490, W 670-1145; distance between posterior edge of Cx-IV 520-685. Genital valves ( Fig. 2B ) L 180-246; pregenital sclerite forming a drop shaped; L Ac 1–3 51-68, 55-97, 48-67. Capitulum L 230-291; chelicera L 226-298, basal segment L 160-216, claw L 66-82, L ratio chelicerae basal segment/claw 2.42- 2.63; palp ( Fig. 2A ) total L 440-612 dL and %L (in parentheses): P-1, 22-30 (5.0); P-2, 110-149 (24.3-25.0); P-3, 140-204 (31.8-33.3); P-4, 132-182 (29.7-30.0); P-5, 36-54 (8.2-8.8); P-2/P-4 ratio 0.8. Leg segments L: I-Leg-1-6: 68- 72, 80-83, 95-109, 152-173, 147-156, 140-160; IV-Leg-1- 6: 121-141, 120-135, 140-164, 267-302, 250-280, 211- 242.

Habitat. Low order streams, running waters near the springs, in the moss vegetation.

Distribution. Known from Iran (Mazaran and Karaj) (Bader and Sepasgosarian, 1984; Pešić et al., 2004) and Turkey (Elazığ) (current study).

Discussion. Having reticulated integument both dorsal and ventral side, absence of coxoglandularia of Cx-III, P-2 with long finger-shaped ventral projection and P-4 with well developed ventral tubercles our specimens agreed with original description of the species Sperchon beckeri Bader & Sepasgosarian, 1984 . However, the Turkish specimens are different by the third pair of genital acetabula rounded (the third pair of genital acetabula more or less triangular). Pešić et al. (2004) recorded the species second time from Mazandaran Province after its original description (Bader and Sepasgosarian, 1984). This is third record of this species after above mentioned records from Iran.

Figures

Figure 1. Sperchon beckeri (Male) – A. Idiosoma, dorsal view, B. Idiosoma, ventral view, C. Palp, medial view, D. Palp, lateral view, E. Chelicera, F. IV-L-5-6 (Scale bars= 100 µm).

Figure 2. Sperchon beckeri (Female) – A. Palp, medial view, B. Genital field (Scale bar = 100 µm).

Figure 3. Sperchon becheri, (A, male; B-D, female) – A. Dorsal view, B. Dorsal view, C. Integument, ventrally, D. Gnathosoma (No scale bar).