Atractides allgaier Gerecke

Records from the study area Rize Province — Turan & Pesic (2005).

Distribution Germany, Turkey; probably western Palaearctic distribution.

Atractides inflatus (Walter)

Records from the study area Antalya and Mersin Provincies — Smit (1995).

Distribution Mediterranean, Turkey, Iran.

Atractides ovalis Koenike

Records from the study area East Anatolia — Oezkan (1982).

Distribution Northern and Central Europe, Italy, Turkey.

Atractides fluviatilis (Szalay)

(Table 1)

Material examined Malatya Province, Pütürge, Siro stream (38º14’N 38º50E), 750 m asl., 14.09.2003, leg. Erman (1/14/0).

Remarks

The specimens from Turkey agree well with the specimens from the Balkans and Iran. The male from Iran differs in having an apple­shaped genital field with Ac­3 strongly reduced in size (Pesic et al. 2004). In Table 1 we give the measurements of the specimen from Pütürge­Erdemler stream which represents the first record of the species in Turkey.

Distribution:

The Balkans, Central Europe, Iberian peninsula, Iran, Turkey; former records of A. fluviatilis require re­confirmation for a better understanding of its geographical distribution.

Atractides lunipes Lundblad

(Table 1)

Material examined Malatya Province, Pütürge, Mezra stream (38º13’N 38º42’E), 900 m asl., 17.10.2004, leg. Erman (0/1/0).

Remarks

The female from Turkey agrees well with the specimens from Iran and the Balkans (Macedonia). Females from Macedonia (Pesic 2003), Iran (Pesic et al. 2004) and Turkey differ from the original description (in parentheses the data of the holotype given by Gerecke 2003) by the following measurements: S­1 L <130 µm (143 µm), ratio S­1 L/W <13 (20.4); ratio S­2 L/W <6.5 (7.7); ratio L I­L­5/6 1.3–1.45 (1.17); genital field L/W> 180.0/200 (L/ W 162.0 /166.0). From the Iranian females, the specimens from Turkey and Macedonia (in parentheses data of the specimens from Macedonia given by Pesic 2003) differ in a shorter segments I­L­5/6 (L I­L­5 235­239; L I­L­6 165­180) and a more slender I­L­5 (L/H 4.0­4.2); the specimens from Macedonia (in parentheses, from Pesic 2003) differ from the specimen from Turkey in a shorter S­2 (L <85.0 µm) and more heteromorphic setae S­1 and ­2 (ratio length S­1/2 1.5–1.6). For the time being they all should be considered as representatives of A. lunipes, in this concept of a variable species (Pesic et al. 2004). More material from the locus typicus (French Pyrenees) will show if the differences are consistent, and if a separate ranking of the eastern populations is warranted. Table 1 presents the measurements of the first specimens from Turkey which represent the first record of the species in the study area.

Distribution: Presently, Atractides lunipes is known from the French Pyrenees, Macedonia, Iran and Turkey.

Atractides oezkani sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–10)

Type series

Holotype: male, dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer’s fluid. Turkey: Malatya Province, Darende, Tohma stream (38º30’N 37º31E), 1000 m asl., 0 4.08.2005, leg. Erman ; Paratypes: 3 females, same data as holotype, one female of them dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer’s fluid .

Diagnosis

Dorsum: Integument dorsally: lineated; muscle attachments: unsclerotized. I­L: I­L­5 S­1/2 distanced, S­2 enlarged; I­L­6 curved, strongly narrowed distally. Genital field: Acetabula in a curved line either side of the genital opening; excretory pore: smooth; Vgl­ 1: not fused with Vgl­2. Palp: strong sexual dimorphism in P­2, P­4 sword seta close to the distoventral hair, the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral hair.

Description Male: Idiosoma L 738, W 650. Integument dorsally lineated; muscle attachments unsclerotized. Coxal field (Fig. 1): length between anterior end of first coxae and posterior end of fourth coxae 366; Cx­3 W 409; Cx­1+2 medial suture L 135; distance from lateralmost tips of Cx­2 to the medioposterior edge of Cx­1+2 253. Measurements of mouthparts: palp total L 303, L and relative L (% total L, in parentheses): P­1 33 (10.8), P­ 2 70 (23.1), P­3 68 (22.4), P­4 100 (33.0), P­5 32 (10.6); L P­2/P­4 is 0.7; palp (Figs. 4–5): P­2 with ventrodistal protrusion, separated by a small longitudinal sulcus from a lateral lamelar part that continues into the laterodistal margin of the segment; P­4 with sword seta near distoventral hair, the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral hair. Genital field (Fig. 2): Ac in a curved line, L 109, W 134, Ac­1­3 L 30­32­36; excretory pore smooth; Vgl­1: separate from Vgl­2.

I­L (Fig. 3): I­L­5 S­1 and ­2 widely separated, S­2 thick; I­L­6 curved ventrally, slightly thickened basally, with parallel dorsal and ventral margins; I­L­5 L 182, I­L­5 vL 124, L/vL 1.47, I­L­5 H 53, L/H 3.4, S­1 L 87, L/ W 9.7, S­2 L 77, L/ W 6.3, S­1­2 interspace 18, L ratio S­1/2 1.13; I­L­6 L 136, I­L­6 H 19.6, L/H 6.9; L I­L­5/6 1.34.

Female: Idiosoma L 1069, W 881. Coxal field (Fig. 6): length between anterior end of first coxae and posterior end of fourth coxae 450; Cx­3 W 606; Cx­1+2 medial suture L 147; distance from lateralmost tips of Cx­2 to the medioposterior edge of Cx­1+2 300. Measurements of mouthparts: palp total L 398, L and relative L (% total L, in parentheses): P­1 40 (10.1), P­2 90 (22.6), P­3 100 (25.1), P­4 127 (31.9), P­5 41 (10.3), L P­2/P­4 is 0.71; palp (Fig. 8): P­2 ventrodistal edge slightly protruding and rounded, P­4 sword seta nearer to distoventral hair. Genital field (Fig. 7): Ac in an obtuse triangle, L 195, W 220, individual genital plate L 133, Ac­1­3 L 45­60­56; egg maximum diameter (n=5) 128–138; excretory pore smooth; Vgl­1: separate from Vgl­2.

I­L (Fig. 9): I­L­5 L 250, I­L­5 vL 159, L/vL 1.57, I­L­5 H 67, L/H 3.73, S­1 L 118, L/ W 10.8, S­2 L 99, L/ W 5.03, S­1­2 interspace 35, L ratio S­1/2 1.19; I­L­6 L 183, I­L­6 H 22.7, L/H 8.1; L I­L­5/6 1.37.

Discussion

Atractides oezkani sp. nov. shares the combination of a lineated integument, the relatively long I­L­6 (L ratio I­L­5/6 <1.60), unsclerotized excretory pore, unfused Vgl­1/ 2, and P­2 with a ventrodistal projection in male, with A. fissus (Walter), A. remotus Szalay, A. valencianus (K.Viets), A. inflatipalpis K.Viets and A. mossahebii Pesic. A. fissus (see: Gerecke 2003, Pesic 2002) clearly differs from A. oezkani in having a weakly developed ventrodistal projection in the male P­2, and larger acetabula in a triangular arrangement. In contrast to A. oezkani the suture line of Cx­2/3 of A. remotus is indistinct and all coxae are almost fused to complete coxal field (Gerecke 2003).

The most important difference between A. oezkani and A. inflatipalpis, A. mossahebii and A. fissus is found in the P­4: A. oezkani has the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral, while it is normal in shape and slender in the males of A. valencianus, A. inflatipalpis and A. mossahebii (see: Gerecke 2003, Pesic et al. 2004). Further differences are found in a shorter medial suture Cx­1+2 of A. oezkani, the smaller dimensions of genital acetabula in A. valencianus and A. inflatipalpis, and a larger I­L­5/6, longer S­1 and ­ 2, and wider interspace in A. mossahebii .

With its combination of a lineated dorsal integument and a strong sexual dimorphism of P­2, A. oezkani is similar to A. fonticolus (K. Viets) and A. pennatus (K. Viets) . It differs clearly from both species in the more distant S­1 and ­ 2 on I­L­5 and the more slender I­L­ 6. From A. markaziensis Pesic (in parentheses, data from Pesic et al. 2004) a species similar due to the shape of the palp (strong sexual dimorphism in P­2, the proximoventral hair of P­4 thicker than the distoventral hair), A. oezkani is easily distinguished by a lineated, not striated integument and a relatively long I­L­6 (L I­L­5/6> 1.6).

Etymology: The species is named in honor Prof. Dr. Muhlis Özkan in appreciation of his studies of Turkish water mites.

Biology Atractides oezkani is a rhitrobiontic species.

Distribution: Turkey, only known from the locus typicus in the Malatya Province.

Atractides panniculatus (K.Viets)

(Figs. 11–17, Table 1)

Material examined

Elazig Province, Alacakaya, Halkali stream (38º31’N 40º00’E), 1230 asl., 0 7.10.2004, leg. Erman (2/0/0) ; Elazig Province, Karakocan, Kalecik stream (39º00’N 40º02’E), 1080 m asl., 0 2.10.1999, leg. Erman (1/0/0) ; Malatya Province, Pütürge, Erdemler stream (38º11’N 38º45’E) 850 m asl., 12.09.2003, leg. Erman (2/0/0) ; Malatya Province, Pütürge, Göze stream (38º13’N 39º00’E), 800 m asl., 13.09.2003, leg. Erman (7/1/0) ; Malatya Province, Pütürge, Mezra stream (38º13’N 38º 42’E), 900 m asl., 28.08.2005, leg. Erman (3/0/0).

Records from study area East Anatolia — Oezkan (1982).

Remarks

The Turkish specimens show a general conformity with Atractides panniculatus in the combination of a lineated integument, unsclerotized excretory pore, unfused Vgl­1/2, P­2 ventrodistally convex but without projection, ventrodistal hair on P­4 distally arranged (ventral margin divided by hair insertions 2: 3: 1) (Figs. 13­14) and a relatively slender I­ L­6 (L/H> 7.5) (Fig. 12). The differences (in parentheses the measurements of the Central 6; 13 = palp, lateral view; 14 = palp, medial view. Scale Bars = 100 µm.

European male specimens, data from Gerecke 2003) are found in a smaller Ac arranged in an obtuse triangle (Fig. 11) (Ac maximum diameter> 50 µm, in triangle arrangement with posterior edge of Ac­1 adjacent to anterior edge of Ac­3), a smaller I­L­5/6 (L> 200/150) and S­1 and ­ 2 narrower interspace (> 30 µm). The specimen from Göze Pütürge suspected to represent the female of A. panniculatus differs from the specimens from Central Europe (in parentheses, measurements for paralectotype ­ data from Gerecke 2003 and specimens [n =2] from Poland ­ Pesic & Chaniecka 2006) in a more distant S­1 and ­ 2 on I­L­5 (38 µm in paralectotype, 37­38 µm in females from Poland), a stouter I­L­5 (L/H 3.68 in paralectotype, 3.2­3.3 in females from Poland), with relatively shorter ventral margin (L/vL 1.44 in paralectotype, 1.57­1.6 in females from Poland), a longer S­2 (130 µm in paralectotype, 131­133 µm in females from Poland), a more slender I­L­6 (L/H 9.9 in paralectotype, 7.6­8.0 in females from Poland) and Ac arranged in an obtuse triangle (Fig. 15) compared with the specimens from the type series (see: Gerecke 2003).

Most probably, future investigations on the geographical variation in A. panniculatus will prove that this taxon represents a species complex. In Table 1 we give the measurements of the males (n = 5, from Pütürge­Erdemler, Pütürge­Göze, Pütürge­Mezra and Alacakaya­Halkali) and the female (from Pütürge­Göze).

Distribution Iberian peninsula, Central Europe, Carpathians, Turkey.

Atractides rivalis Lundblad

(Figs. 18–21)

Material examined Malatya Province, Pütürge, Erdemler stream (38º11’N 38º45’E), 850 m asl., 12.09.2003, leg. Erman (1/0/0).

Morphology

Male: Idiosoma L 650, W 520. Integument dorsally lineated; muscle attachments: unsclerotized. Coxal field (Fig. 18): length between anterior end of first coxae and posterior end of fourth coxae 331, Cx­3 W 381, Cx­1+2 medial suture L 103, distance from lateralmost tips of Cx­2 to the medioposterior edge of Cx­1+2 228. Measurements of mouthparts: palp total L 291, L and relative L (% total L, in parentheses): P­1 33 (11.3), P­ 2 68 (23.4), P­3 62 (21.3), P­4 97 (33.3), P­5 31 (10.7); L P­2/P­4 0.7; palp (Figs. 20­21): P­2 ventrodistally strongly convex, but without protrusion; P­4 thickened, slightly elevated near proximoventral hair, sword seta nearer to the distoventral hair. Genital field (Fig. 19): Ac large, in compact triangular arrangement, L 125, W 156, Ac­1­3 L 52­55­48; excretory pore smooth; Vgl­1: separate from Vgl­2.

I­L (Fig. 20): S­1/2 moderately separated and heteromorphic; I­L­6 curved; I­L­5 L 159, I­L­5 vL 106, L/vL 1.5, I­L­5 H 49, L/H 3.28, S­1 L 78, L/ W 8.7, S­2 L 64, L/ W 5.3, S­1­2 interspace 15, L ratio S­1/2 1.23; I­L­6 L 121, H 21, L/H 5.7; L I­L­5/6 1.32.

Remarks

In the combination of a lineated integument, unsclerotized excretory pore, unfused Vgl­1/2, large acetabula in triangular arrangement, P­2 ventrodistally convex, but without projection, ventral margin P­4 divided by hair insertions 1: 1: 1, relatively stouter I­L­6 (L/ H <7.5) and setae S­1/2 moderately separated (interspace <30 µm), the specimen from Turkey agrees well with A. rivalis known previously only from Austria and Poland (the latter record needs confirmation, Gerecke 2003). The male from Turkey differs in having a shorter setal interspace (15 vs. 22 in male from Austria, data from Gerecke 2003) and setae S­1 and ­2 of I­L­5 are shorter and stouter (ratio L/W S­1 11.3, S­2 7.2 in male from Austria, data from Gerecke 2003). The variability of additional Turkish specimens is necessary before we can assess the taxonomic status of this specimen.

Distribution:

Austria, Poland. In view of the little understood morphology of A. rivalis, the two records after the first description require re­confirmation for a better understanding of its geographical distribution.