Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) othneios, Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2014

Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2014, New species of Atropacarus (Hoplophorella), (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) from the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 3774 (1) : -

Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) othneios sp. nov.

( Figs. 3A–G , 4A–E)

Measurements of holotype. Prodorsum: length 117, width 114, height 83, sensillum 109, setae: in 43, le 30, ro 56, ex 15; notogaster: length 338, width 227, height 207, setae: c 1 51, c 1/ c 1– d 1=0.6, h 1 and p 1 45; genitoaggenital plate 86 x66; anoadanal plate 119 x73. Measurements of paratype from sample MAG-205: prodorsum: length 187, width 131, height 81, sensillum 134, setae: in 45, le 40, ro 56, ex 20; notogaster: length 343, width 242, height 202, setae: c 1 61, c 1/ c 1- d 1=0.7, h 1 48, p 1 53; genitoaggenital plate 86 x76; anoadanal plate 121 x76.

Description. Colour light brown. Body surface covered with deep, regular rounded foveoles.

Prodorsum ( Figs. 3A–B ) with unusual shape of joined sigillar fields with deep sinus between rostral setae. In paratype from sample MAG-205 one pair of strong median cristae present. Lateral carinae and posterior furrows well marked. Sensilli long, whip-shaped, rough in proximal part. Interlamellar setae in shape of aspergillum, covered with spines in distal half, similar to notogastral setae. Lamellar and exobothridial setae needle-like. Rostral setae long directed inward, covered with spines.

Notogaster ( Fig. 3C ) with setae similar to aspergillum, covered with spines in distal half, rather short (c 1<c 1 - d 1). Setae c 1 near the anterior margin, setae c 2 and c 3 remote from margin. Only lyrifissures im visible, other lyrifissures and vestigial setae not visible because strong sculpture.

Ventral region ( Figs. 3D–E ). Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them. Genitoaggenital plates with 9 pairs of setae with formula: 6: 3. Anoadanal plates with 5 pairs of setae, anal setae long, filiform, smooth, setae ad 1 the longest, rough, setae ad 2 longer than anal setae, setae ad 3 rather long but slightly shorter than anal setae covered sparsely with spines.

Legs. Chaetome of legs complete. Setae d on femora I bifurcated, situated at distal end of article.

Material examined. Holotype and 2 paratypes are deposited at DATE from locus typicus: MAG-207, Madagascar, Ranomafana National Park, 1. X. 2012, 21 °15'10.3“ S, 47°25'01.2“ E, altitude 1077m, evergreen rain forest, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina. Two paratypes are deposited at ISB from the same locality and three paratypes are deposited in NHMG, two from locality: MAG-208, Madagascar, Ranomafana National Park, Vatoharanana, 3. X. 2012, 21 °16'42.2“ S, 47°26'18.2“ E, altitude 1000m, evergreen rain forest, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina, and one from: MAG-205, Madagascar, Ranomafana National Park, 29. IX. 2012, 21 °14'57.2“ S, 47°25'14.7“ E, altitude 1038m, evergreen rain forest, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina.

Etymology. The specific name othneios is latinized Greek for “strange” and alludes for the unusual shape of sigillar fields of prodorsum.

Comparison. The new species is not comparable with other species of the subgenus Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) because of the unusual shape of the sigillar fields of its prodorsum, its long and whip-shaped sensilli and its rather long ciliate ad 3 setae.

Figures

FIGURE 3 A – G. Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) othneios sp. nov. (holotype). A, prodorsum, dorsal view, B, prodorsum, lateral view, C, opisthosoma, lateral view, D, genitoaggenital and anoadanal plates, E, mentum of subcapitulum, F, trochanter and femur of leg I, G, seta d of femur I.