Atanaupodus bakeri, Judson & Mąąkol, 2009

Judson, Mark L. I. & Mąąkol, Joanna, 2009, A mite of the family Tanaupodidae (Arachnida, Acari, Parasitengona) from the Lower Cretaceous of France, Geodiversitas 31 (1), pp. 41-47 : 43-44

Atanaupodus bakeri n. sp. ( Figs 1 ; 2 )

HOLOTYPE. — Active postlarval stage (probably a deutonymph), preserved in a very turbid fragment of amber ( ARC 115.8 R) from Archingeay-Les Nouillers , Charente- Maritime , France : Lower Cretaceous , uppermost Albian , lithological subunit A1 sensu Néraudeau & Moreau (1989). Deposited in Palaeoentomological collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Specimen only visible in lateral view and difficult to study because of numerous small bubbles and debris in the amber. Distal end of left leg IV and most parts of the right legs lost.

ETYMOLOGY. — This species is dedicated to the acarologist Dr Richard (“Sandy”) A. Baker (Leeds University), who was the first author’s Ph.D. supervisor.

DESCRIPTION

All setae simple and acuminate; those of idiosoma approximately 28 long, numerous, irregularly

arrangedand inserted on platelets that are slightly larger and more strongly sclerotized (rims darker, slightly orange in colour) than the surrounding papillae. Idiosoma 730 long, 350 deep; integument with slightly crenulate papillae with a pentagonal or hexagonal base ( Figs 1B ; 2A, B ). Aspidosoma apparently with a small, blunt, anteroventrallydirected naso; two pairs of well-developed lateral eyes,which are contiguous and sessile;crista metopica not visible, but the probable presence of a pair of trichobothria at the level of the eyes is inferred from a string of bubbles ( Fig. 2C : bo?). Legs ( Fig. 2D, E ) robust; tarsus I moderately expanded; cuticle of all segments smooth; all setae simple; legs I-III with a pair of long, simple claws (end of leg IV missing). Leg lengths (trochanter to tarsus): I 460, II 340, III 330, IV unmeasurable.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Atanaupodus bakeri n. sp., holotype: A, lateral view; B, detail of integument above level of coxa IV, arrows indicate positions of setae. Body length 730 μm.

FIG. 2. — Atanaupodus bakeri n. sp., holotype: A, detail of hysterosomal papillae and seta, view perpendicular to surface; B, oblique view of hysterosomal papillae; C, habitus, lateral view; D, left leg III, dorso-antiaxial view; E, left leg IV, dorso-antiaxial view (distal end lost). Abbreviations: bo?, possible trichobothrium; F1, basifemur; F2, telofemur; G, genu; TB, tibia; TR, trochanter; TS, tarsus. Scale bars: A, B, 10 μm; C, 200 μm; D, E, 100 μm.