Plegadognathus Morselli, 1981

Bartsch, I., 2016, Arhodeoporus, Camactognathus, Plegadognathus, and Winlundia (Acari: Halacaridae), re-evaluation and geographical distribution, Acarologia 56 (4), pp. 553-571 : 564

Plegadognathus Morselli, 1981

Type species — Plegadognathus labronicus Morselli, 1981

Idiosoma — AD, OC and PD with raised areolae which include cup-like foveae or alveoli, remainder of plates coarsely pitted, foveate or reticulate. AD and OC with pair of gland pores, PD with (zero? or) one pair of gland pores near posterior margin; pores not on cones. Dorsum with pairs of ds-1 to ds- 6. AE with epimeral pores and three pairs of setae, pair of PE each with one dorsal and three ventral setae. GA of female with three (rarely four) pairs of pgs, genital sclerites with two pairs of sgs, rarely a single pair, GO with two pairs of internal acetabula ( Figure 3F ). Male GA with numerous pgs, genital sclerites with five, rarely four pairs of sgs.

Gnathosoma — Slightly longer than wide. Rostrum triangular. Basal pair of maxillary setae on gnathosomal base, following pair on rostrum. Palps four-segmented, laterally attached. P-2 with one dorsal seta, P-4 with two (?) or three setae in basal whorl; no seta on P-3.

Legs — Slender. Genua distinctly shorter than adjacent segments. Basifemora I to IV with 2, 2, 2, 2 setae, telofemora with 3-4, 3, 2, 2 and genua with 3(- 4), 3(-4), 3, 3 setae. Tibia I to IV with 7, 6, 5, 5 setae, of these 4, 3, 2, 2 ventral in position. Solenidion on tarsus I dorsolateral, on tarsus II dorsomedial in position. Tarsus I to IV with 2-3, 0, 0, 0 ventral setae. Tarsi end with paired parambulacral setae, paired claws and a distinctly smaller median claw.

Deutonymph — Genital plate with two pairs of pgs and two pairs of internal acetabula.

Figures

FIGURE 3: A – Maracarus eclogarius (AndrØ, 1959), female: tarsus IV, lateral (medial pas obscured, medial claw omitted); B – Maracarus kunzi (Bartsch, 1987), female: tarsus II, medial. C-E: Maracarus brevocularis (Bartsch, 1973), male: C – tarsus III, ventral (dorsal setae in broken line); D – GO and perigenital setae; E – tibia and tarsus IV, ventromedial. F – Plegadognathus bonairensis (Viets, 1936), female: GO and perigenital setae. G-J: Maracarus corallicolus (Otto, 2000): G – right part of AD with gland pore, male; H – genital plate with two pairs of pgs, sgs and internal acetabula, deutonymph; I – right OC, male; J – gnathosoma with suctoria, lateral aspect, male. (ca, canal of gland pore; epg, external porus of gland; gac, genital acetabula; hy, hyaline area; le, lens; l-pas, lateral parambulacral seta; m-pas, medial parambulacral seta; pa, porose areola; p-pgs, pori from perigenital setae; pgs, perigenital setae; sgs, subgenital setae) Scale = 50 µm. A, Gulf of Suez, 30 Dec. 1928, on sponges; B, South Africa, East London, broken shells; C-E, North Atlantic, Josephine Bank, 1 July 1967, 206 m, sediment; F, Indian Ocean, Australia, Dampier, Watering Cove, 8 Aug. 2000, algal turf on pneumatophores; G-J. Southwestern Pacific, Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island, 13 Oct. 1998.