Torrenticola neoindica, Pešić & Smit, 2014

Pešić, Vladimir & Smit, Harry, 2014, Torrenticolid water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Torrenticolidae) from Malaysian Borneo, Zootaxa 3840 (1), pp. 1-72 : 20-22

Torrenticola neoindica n. sp.

( Figs. 12A–D, 13A–D, 16C–D, 17C–D, 23F)

Type series. Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Malaysia, Borneo , Mahua stream, downstream of national park entrance, Crocker Range, 5º46.491 N, 116º25.770 E, alt. 865 m asl., 22.ix.2012 Smit . Paratypes: 3/ 4[one juvenile]/0 (+ 5/0 in ethanol), same data as holotype, one female dissected and slide mounted .

Further records. Borneo : Great Lumotok stream, Mt Kinabalu , 6º09.336 N, 116º08.417 E, alt. 433 m asl., 18.ix.2012 Smit 2/1[one juvenile]/0 (1/0/0 mounted); Mahua stream, Mahua, Crocker Range, 5º47.838 N, 116º24.510 E, alt. 1052 m asl., 21.ix.2012 Smit 0/3/1 (+ 4/0 in ethanol); Mahua stream at crossing with main road, Crocker Range, 5º45.225 N, 116º26.085 E, alt. 752 m asl., 22.ix.2012 Smit 3[one juvenile]/0/1; Kibamabangan River , Crocker Range, 5º51.28 N, 116º08.417 E, alt. 433 m asl., 18.ix.2012 Smit 1[juvenile]/0/0 (mounted); Little Lumotok stream, Sayap, 6º09.497 N, 116º34.027 E, alt. 1065 m asl., 17.ix.2012 Smit 0/1/0; small stream waterfall trail Inobong, 5º51.306 N, 116º08.292 E, alt. 482 m asl., 19.ix.2012 Smit 1/0/0; small stream Layang Layang, Mt Kinabalu, 6º02.711 N, 116º33.627 E, alt. 2697 m asl., 12.ix.2012 Smit 0/1/[juvenile]0; first stream Minduk Sirung Trail, Alab, Crocker Range, 5º45.225 N, 116º26.085 E, alt. 752 m asl., 22.ix.2012 Smit 4[one juvenile]/0/0; Silau- Silau stream, upstream, Mt Kinabalu, 6º00.681 N, 116º32.417 E, alt. 1592 m asl., 2.ix.2012 Smit 1/1/0 (damaged) .

Diagnosis. Idiosoma elongated-oval (dorsal shield L/W ratio 1.2–1.4); shoulder platelets fused to the large dorsal plate; dorsal shield with colour pattern as illustrated in Figs. 16C–D; Cxgl-4 subapical, only slightly posterior of Cx-I tips; suture lines of Cx-IV extending posteriorly beyond posterior margin of genital field. Male: medial suture line of Cx-II+III short.

Description

General features —Idiosoma elongated-oval; shoulder platelets fused to the large dorsal plate; dorsal shield with colour pattern as illustrated in Figs. 16C–D; gnathosomal bay U-shaped; Cxgl-4 subapical, only slightly posterior of Cx-I tips; suture line of Cx-IV distinct, extending posteriorly beyond posterior margin of genital field; excretory and Vgl-2 pore away from the line of primary sclerotization, excretory pore slightly anterior or on the level with Vgl-2; gnathosoma with curved ventral margin; rostrum well developed ( Fig. 12D); P-2 longer than P-4, P-2 ventral margin slightly convex, distally with a subrectangular, anteriorly directed and apically serrated hyaline extension (covering less than 30% of ventral margin) and a short seta laterally at base of projection; P-3 with a shorter, subrectangular, apically serrated ventrodistal projection, and a long seta laterally at base of projection; P-4 stout, with ventral tubercles pointed and separated, bearing one long and three short setae ( Figs. 12C, 13C–D). Male: medial suture line of Cx-II+III short; genital field subrectangular in shape; ejaculatory complex normal in shape ( Fig. 23F). Female: genital field pentagonal in shape.

Measurements

Male (holotype, in parentheses from Great Lumotok stream)—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 12A, 13B, 17C) L 563 (596), W 411 (469); dorsal shield ( Fig. 13A, 16C) L 477 (500), W 360 (404), L/W ratio 1.32 (1.24); dorsal plate L 453 (469); frontal plate L 105–111 (116–117), W 37–38 (44), L/W ratio 2.8–3.0 (2.6–2.7). Gnathosomal bay L 109 (109), Cx-I total L 231 (232), Cx-I mL 121 (123), Cx-II+III mL 62 (69); ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 3.7 (3.4); Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 2.0 (1.8). Genital field L/W 119 (130)/94 (98), ratio 1.27 (1.32); ejaculatory complex L 143 (177); distance genital field-excretory pore 116 (103), genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 150 (163). Gnathosoma vL 265 (305); chelicera total L 297 (328); palp total L 250 (271), dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 28/26, 1.08 (32/29, 1.1); P-2, 86/50, 1.72 (95/48-49, 1.95); P-3, 46/45, 1.03 (48/45, 1.06); P-4, 72/26, 2.73 (80/25, 3.28); P-5, 18/12, 1.46 (16/11, 1.48); P-2/P-4 ratio 1.2 (1.18).

Female (paratype from Mahua stream, downstream of national park entrance)—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 12B, 17D) L 609, W 411; dorsal shield ( Fig. 16D) L 508, W 350, L/W ratio 1.45; dorsal plate L 481; frontal plate L 115, W 40, L/W ratio 2.9–3.1. Gnathosomal bay L 113, Cx-I total L 229, Cx-I mL 116, Cx-II+III mL 55; ratio Cx- I L/Cx-II+III mL 4.2; Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 2.1. Genital field L/W 134/116, ratio 1.16; distance genital fieldexcretory pore 122, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 191. Gnathosoma vL 281; palp total L 271, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 31/29, 1.06; P-2, 93/52, 1.78; P-3, 53/46, 1.16; P-4, 79/26, 3.0; P-5, 15/11, 1.44; P-2/P-4 ratio 1.18.

Etymology. Named after its similarity with T. indica .

Discussion. The specimens from Borneo agree well in general morphology of the palp (P-2 and -3 with a subrectangular, anteriorly directed and apically serrated hyaline extensions) with Torrenticola indica Cook, 1967 , a species described from India ( Cook 1967). The latter species can be easily distinguished in a different colour pattern on the dorsal shield (see Cook 1967: fig. 222) and in the male having a longer medial suture line of Cx- II+III.

Wiles (1999) reported T. indica from several sites in the catchment area of the Rivers Temburong and Belalong in Brunei Darussalem, without discussion on differences with the original description.

Habitat. Sandy/bouldery streams, shaded by rain forest ( Figs. 43A, C).

Distribution. Borneo.