Oppiella (Quattoppiella) goldengatensis sp. nov.

(Figs 10, 11)

Diagnosis. Oppiella (Q.) goldengatensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Oppiella species by the characters of the new subgenus (see above). The most important characters are the presence of four pairs of genital setae, costula absent and the notogaster with a straight anterior edge with crista.

Description. Measurements. Length: females (n=3) mean 186 (range 184–189), males (n=5) 175 (172–178). Width: females 80 (74–84), males 76 (70–81). Holotype (female): length 186, width 86.

Integument (Fig. 10 A). Body surface smooth; exobothridial region not granulated.

Prodorsum (Fig. 10 A, C). Rostrum rounded in dorsal view; ro (13) inserted dorsally, thickened, lightly barbed, le (8), in (6) thin, smooth, ex (14) thick, smooth, inserted anterio-medially to a lateral ridge; ss (25) fusiform with 8–10 branches, proximal branch shorter than others; lamellar and translamellar lines absent; postbothridial tubercle present, corresponding to crista anteriorly on notogaster; interbothridial region, directly posterior to in, with posteriorly directed tubercles; curved line present anterior of bothridium.

Notogaster (Fig. 10 A, C). Ten pairs of smooth notogastral setae present, equal in size (11–14), except la slightly longer (18), seta la slightly postero-laterally to lm; seta h 3 postero-laterally to lp, seta p 2 curved; lyrifissure ia, im distinct (6), im anterior of h 3, ia within anterior crista of notogaster; medial anterior notogastral edge straight with one pair of cristae on the edges, crista almost touching postbothridial tubercle.

Epimeral region (Fig. 10 B). Epimeral setae smooth, short (3–5), seta 3c slightly longer (8); discidium absent.

Anogenital region (Fig. 10 B, C). All setae thin, smooth; four pairs of genital setae (3–4), g 1 on anterior border of genital plate; ag (4) similar to epimeral setae, two pairs of anal seta (3); three pairs of adanal setae (4), ad 3 inserted far anteriorly, postero-laterally to ag, ad 2 laterally to iad; iad (6) paraanal.

Legs (Fig. 11). Leg IV (97) ~ leg I (95)> leg III (82)> leg II (64); leg setation: leg I: 1-5-2(1)-4(2)-20(2), leg II: 1-5-2(1)-4(1)-13(2), leg III: 2-3-1(1)-3(1)-13, leg IV: 1-2-2-3(1)-10; all setae on legs, except u on Ta I–IV and p on Ta I, lightly barbed; solenidion σ on Ge III short, thickened, on Ge IV long, flagellate; ev’ on Fe III, IV absent, l’ and l” present.

Etymology. The species is named for the type locality: Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Type material. The holotype and eight paratypes were collected in Golden Gate Highlands National Park (28º30’S, 28º37’E) by R. Earle, 19.II.1986 from moist soil under Leucosidea plants. The holotype (NMB 3442.12.1) and five paratypes (NMB 3442.12) are deposited in the Acarology collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Three paratypes (NMSA-Aca 20007, Type 4029) are stored in the collection of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Remarks. Oppiella goldengatensis sp. nov. is unique in the characters of the new subgenus: four pairs of genital setae and the absence of costula. Despite the difference in number of genital setae, the new species looks similar to Oppiella (Rhinoppia) heterotricha (Ivan & Vasiliu, 1997) (Romania), O. (R.) obsoleta (Paoli, 1908) (Palearctic) and O. (R.) subpectinata (Oudemans, 1900) (Holarctic) in terms of the complete absence of costula, anterior notogaster truncated and the rostrum rounded, not dentate or pointed. These species have six pairs of genital setae, but also differ from O. goldengatensis in the following: size ( O. goldengatensis 172–189 x 70 –86, O. heterotricha 313 x 156, O. obsoleta 285–360 x 145–205, O. subpectinata large variation in size 273–390 x 140–240); chitinous process medially at the base of the prodorsum, with rounded anterior border and two L-shaped tubercles on its sides ( O. heterotricha present, other species absent); rostal seta smooth or barbed ( O. goldengatensis, O. obsoleta barbed, O. subpectinata, O. heterotricha smooth).