Tectodamaeus daliensis, Xie & Yang, 2009

Xie, Lixia & Yang, Maofa, 2009, A taxonomic study on the genus Tectodamaeus Aoki (Acari, Oribatida, Damaeidae), with description of two new species from China, ZooKeys 21 (2), pp. 73-82 : 76-78

Tectodamaeus daliensis sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0E9C7327-03DF-48E6-A3B0-49368614EE2D

Figs 12–17

Measurements. Mean ventral length: 817 µm (range 785–822); Mean notogastral width: 722 µm (range 695–786).

Integument. Microtuberculate on all enantiophyses and apophyses, rostrum, lateral prodorsum and around leg acetabula. Cerotegument mostly filamentous, long, thick, dense on most of body and legs, except center of notogaster.

Figures Ι2–Ι7. Tectodamaeus daliensis sp. n. Ι 2 adult, dorsal view Ι 3 adult, ventral view Ι3a the setae of notogaster Ι4 femur and genu of leg I; Ι5 tibia and tarsus of leg I; Ι6 femur and genu of leg IV; Ι7 tibia and tarsus of leg IV.

Prodorsum. Three pairs tubercles (Da, Ba and Bp) well developed. Propodolateral apophysis (P) strongly developed, pedotectum-like. Setae le with small, coarse barbs, those of ro smooth, both setae attenuate, mutual distance of ro slightly less than that of le. Setae in short, dark brown, with small barbs and roughened. Exobothridial setae relatively long, undulating attenuate. Sensillus (about 329µm) dark, attenuate, with sparse, fine, conspicuous barbs, tip acuminate.

Notogaster. Hemispherical, adherent debris, held away from notogastral surface. Notogastral setae of c -, l -, h - series inserted on distinct tubercles. Setae relatively large, thick, brown, acuminate, roughtened with dense warts and distal half finely barbed. c 1 (about 150 µm) directed anterodorsad, c 2 (about 188 µm) dorsolaterad. l - and h -series (mostly 200–235µm) erect from surface, slightly curved posterolaterad. Mutual distance of setae c 2 2 times that of c 1. Pseudanal setae undulating attenuate,conspicuous barbed. ps 1 somewhat darkened and directed posterolaterad, ps 2 and ps 3 curved laterad. Order in length of the thicker setae: c 1 <c 2 = h 2 = h 3 = la <lp <lm <h 1.

Ventral region. Coxisterna I with medial pit and associated groove. Enantiophyses E2 and V present. E2a small, broadly curved tubercle, represented by low, broadly curved ridge, E2p and Va all represented by broad ridge. Vp carrying seta 3 b, 4 b. Lateral margin of coxisternum I and II strongly contoured giving appearance of ridge in transmitted light. Tubercle Sa broadly triangular with narrowly rounded tip, Sp broadly rounded or subquadrangular, in lateral aspect Sp twice as broad as Sa. Discidium small than Sp, directed posterolaterad. Ventral setae smooth. Coxisternal setation: 3 – 1–3 – 4. Anogenital region normal, seta ad 3 close to anal valves. Raised medial band of anal valve distinct, with undercut lateral margin, fissure ian minute, represented by small, inconspicuous pore in anterolateral corner of valve. Anal aperture appreciably narrower than genital one.

Legs. Relative lengths (I-IV) 1: 0.77: 0.85: 1.06. Leg IV 1.38 times ventral body length. Femur IV 2.5 times length of trochanter IV, proximal stalk 3 times length of bulb. Leg chaetotaxy (famulus included, solenidia in parentheses) – I: 1–7–4(1)–4(2)– 21(2); II: 1–6–4 (1)– 4(1)–18 (2); III: 2–5–3(1)–3(1)–18; IV: 1–5–2–3(1)–15. Setae d of genu shorter than respective coupled solenidion δ. Tibia solenidia φ of leg IV is long, tibial solenidion φ 1 on leg I about 4 times as long as φ 2.

Type Material. 1 Holotype and 14 Paratypes, leaf litter, Mt.Cang, Dali (25°43'18.19"N, 100°11'33.78"E), Yunnan province, China. 11 December 2007, coll. Yi Yan ( IEGU).

Remarks. The new species is similar to Tectodamaeus armatus Aoki , but is easily distinguished from the latter mainly by the setae of notogaster, roughened with dense warts and distal half finely barbed. The shape of sensilluse and tubercles (Sp, Da and Ba) and leg chaetotaxy are also different. The new species is also similar to T. spiniger (Wang) , but the former differs from the latter by different notogastral setae.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the name of type locality.