Scaptognathides tomkinsae Otto 2000

Abé, Hiroshi, 2021, Taxonomic review of the subfamily Lohmannellinae (Acari: Trombidiformes Halacaridae) with morphological comparisons among genera, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 201-255 : 226-227

Scaptognathides tomkinsae Otto 2000

Diagnosis. Ds-2 and Ds-3 on AD. OC with a single Glp. Female with 4 Pgs and 2 Sgs. Male with 21 Pgs. Tr I–IV with 1-1-1-1 setae; Bf I–IV with 2-2-2-2 setae; Tf I–IV with 4-4-2-2 setae; Gn I–IV with 4-4-3-3 setae; Tb I–IV with 5-5-5-5 setae; Ta I–IV with 3-3-3-3 dorsal setae. Lc II–IV with comb. Idiosoma length 206–222 (holotype 206) in female, 206 in male. Gnathosoma length 93 in holotype female. Ratio of gnathosoma to idiosoma 0.45.

Remarks. The species is characterized by foveate dorsal plates, OC with 1 minute seta, one pair of Sgs in femlae, and Ta III with 3 dorsal setae. The species is similar to S. australis and S. bicornis , however, S. tomkinsae is distinguished from these two species by the presence of minute setae on OC, all the dorsal setae placed on the plates, and OC being twice as long as wide. Female and male are known.

Habitat. Subtidal zone: Coarse sands at 3–4 m depth.

Distribution. South Pacific Ocean: Great Barrier Reef (14°18’S, 145°12’E) [ Australia].

Reference. Otto (2000b).

Depository. QMS, ZIZMH.