ENARTHRONOTA

van der Hammen, L., 1959, Berlese's Primitive Oribatid Mites, Zoologische Verhandelingen 40, pp. 1-93 : 12-13

3. ENARTHRONOTA

Enarthronota Grandjean, 1947.

The name Enarthronota Grandjean (1947) is used for a group of Oribatid mites that are recognizable by the fact that the notogaster is divided in a special way. The group consists of the families Hypochthoniidae , Eniochthoniidae , Brachychthoniidae , Haplochthoniidae , Cosmochthoniidae , Heterochthoniidae , Atopochthoniidae , Pterochthoniidae , Sphaerochthoniidae , and Protoplophoridae ; with the exception of Haplochthoniidae and Atopochthoniidae , all families are represented in the Berlese Collection.

Probably the Enarthronota are to be considered of higher rank than superfamily; according to the "Regles" it is indeed not allowed to use the name for a superfamily, because names of the family-group (subfamily, family, and superfamily) must be founded on generic names. In my opinion the group possibly must be regarded as a section in which superfamilies still must be distinguished; I point for instance to the special relationship between Sphaerochthoniidae and Protoplophoridae .

Berlese's species have been classified by him (Berlese, 1913a, pp. 7, 8) with Hoplophoridae , Hypochthoniidae , Nothridae and Malaconothridae

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF ENARTHRONOTA

1. The notogaster is divided by only one "coupure", although faint transverse ridges on the pygidium, or an incomplete separatory band on the notaspis can be present............ 2

- Notogaster divided by more than one "coupure"......... 5

2. The single "coupure" is situated between the rows c and d; faint transverse ridges are present on the pygidium............... 3

- The single "coupure" contains e (often virtual), or it is situated closely behind this row............. 4

3. Ptychoid............... Protoplophoridae

- Aptychoid. ............. Sphaerochthoniidae

4. The row e (the hairs are often Virtual) is situated on an intercalary sclerite......... Hypochthoniidiae

- Row e on a limbus............. Eniochthoniidae

5. "Coupures" without intercalary sclerites........... 6

- One or more "coupures" with intercalary sclerites that bear hairs.......... 8

6. Two "coupures", between d and e, and between e and f respectively............. Brachychthoniidae

- Three "coupures", between c and d, d and e, and e and f respectively.............. 7

7. Hairs simple, no peranal segment........... Haplochthoniidae fam. nov. 1)

- Hairs foliate, peranal segment present........... Pterochthoniidae

8. Three eyes distinctly present, a median one and a pair of posterior laterals............ Heterochthoniidae

- No eyes.................... 9

9. Only f1 and f2 erectile, and situated on intercalary sclerites. Segment D is not scleritized; d is absent............. Atopochthoniidae 2)

- Rows e and f erectile, and situated on intercalary sclerites. D is present............. Cosmochthoniidae

1) This new family consists of the genera Haplochthonius Willmann, Amnemochthonius Grandjean, and possibly of the genus Tetrachthonius Hammer. The family is not represented in the Berlese Collection.

2) This family is not represented in the Berlese Collection.