Moramangabates pauliani, Gerecke, 2004

Gerecke, Reinhard, 2004, The water mites of Madagascar (Acari, Hydrachnidia): a revised list completed by original material conserved at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, Zoosystema 26 (3), pp. 393-418 : 402

Moramangabates pauliani n. sp.

( Figs 5 , 6 )

Dodekabates sp. – Goldschmidt & Gerecke 2003: fig. 3. TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype, east; Moramanga ; Institut scientifique de Madagascar, Sondrangato (eau stagnante), 29 km route d’Anoibe, IX.1953, J. Millot, mounted in glycerine jelly; paratype, same data as holotype, undissected in ethanol (C 20 O).

ETYMOLOGY. — In remembrance of the important contribution of Renaud Paulian to our knowledge of the biodiversity of the “Grande Île”.

DIAGNOSIS. — As for the genus.

DISTRIBUTION. — Madagascar. Only known from the type locality

DESCRIPTION

Female (male unknown): idiosoma L/W 1250/ 1000, integument smooth, without sclerotized muscle attachments; L/W cx-1+2 375/210, cx- 3+4 500/330; ventral idiosoma: see Figure 5C ; caudal margin of cx-4 with a projecting, “ Piona - like” apodeme, but no sclerotized line extending from the base of this apodeme in the direction of the glandular opening on the coxa; legs ( Fig. 6 ) slender, bearing strong claws with well developed ventral clawlet and claw blades; all basal segments with stout, nail-like dorsal setae; long, stiff ventral setae arranged as follows: I-L-2 one distally, I-L-3 two centrally and two distally; I-L-4 three distally; II-L as I-L; III-L-2 two distally, III-L-3 two centrally, two distally; III-L-4 three distally (one of them slightly distanced from segment margin), III-L-5 two distally; IV- L-2 one distally, IV-L-3 three centrally, three distally; IV-L-4 three centrally, three distally; IV-L-5 three distally; furthermore rows of short- er, strong ventral setae on central leg segments increasing in thickness from I-L to IV-L; distal margin of I-L-5 with a fine whip-like seta, several further fine hairs and two strong ventral setae, distal margin of II/III-L-5 each with a curved, dorsally-directed, unilaterally pennate seta; all terminal segments with numerous, fine, ventral hairs, particularly dense on IV-L-6; leg measurements (segments 1-6, L/H): I-L 108/72, 157/76, 229/67, 302/58, 310/45, 260/49; II-L 100/72, 144/72, 225/67, 290/67, 302/50, 270/50; III-L 108/72, 148/72, 243/67, 329/38, 342/49, 333/49; IV-L 170/112, 189/76, 284/72, 360/58, 400/50, 387/50; genital plates each with 13 acetabula, L/W 210/140; gonopore L 520; excretory pore surrounded by a sclerite ring; gnathosoma L 450, W 160, with a long, distally enlarged and rounded caudal projection extending between the medial margins of the anterior coxal plate, but not fused to cx-1; chelicera basal segment L 300, H 100, claw L 145, with a ventrodistal series of very fine, smooth denticles ( Fig. 5A ); palpus ( Fig. 5B ) with a distinct projection at distal end of ventral margin of P-2, and a central hump on P-3, both covered by fine, flat denticles.

DISCUSSION

The unusual setation of legs (lacking true swimming hairs, but with very long, hyaline stiff setae at distal margin of II-L-4, III-L-4/5 and IV-L-3-5) suggests that Moramangabates pauliani n. gen., n. sp. is adapted for life in stagnant waters.

Family UNIONICOLIDAE Oudemans, 1909 Subfamily ENCENTRIDOPHORINAE K. Viets, 1935 Genus Encentridophorus Piersig, 1897

Figures

FIG. 5. — Moramangabates pauliani n. gen., n. sp.; A, chelicera; B, palp in medial view; C, idiosoma, ventral view. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIG. 6. — Moramangabates pauliani n. gen., n. sp.; A, first leg; B, segments 4 and 5 of third leg; C, fourth leg. Scale bar: 100 µm.