Notophthiracarus lineatus, Niedbała & Starý, 2015

Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2015, The next new species of Notophthiracarus Ramsay, 1966 (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaroidea) from Madagascar, African Invertebrates 56 (1), pp. 63-63 : 64

Notophthiracarus lineatus sp. n.

Fig. 1

Etymology: From the Latin lineatus (streaKed, marKed with lines) and alludes to the foveoles on the notogastral surface joined with lines.

Description:

Measurements (holotype). Prodorsum: length 228, width 159, height 94; setae: sensillus (ss) 71, interlamellar (in) 76, lamellar (le) 7, rostral (ro) 38; notogaster: length 404, width 283, height 268, length of notogastral setae: c 1, h 1 and ps 1 76, c 1 / c 1 - d 1 =0.8, genitoaggenital plate 114×71, anoadanal plate 114×66.

Integument. Colour light brown. Integument very finely foveolate, foveolae on notogaster joined with weaK lines.

Prodorsum ( Fig. 1A, B ). Lateral carinae weaK. Sigillar fields distinct, median slightly dilated in distal part, considerably longer than lateral fields. Sensilli long, with thin stalK and dilated head with tips covered with small spines. Interlamellar setae long, thick, erect covered with small spines in distal part, similar in shape to notogastral setae. Lamellar and exobothridial setae minute. Rostral setae spiniform and rough.

Notogaster ( Fig. 1C, D ). Notogastral setae of medium length (c 1 <c 1 -d 1), thicK, covered with small spines in distal part. Setae c 1 and c 3 slightly remote from anterior margin of notogaster, setae c 2 far from notogastral margin. Vestigial setae not discernible. Two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.

Ventral region ( Fig. 1E–G ). Formula of genital setae: 6:3. Anoadanal plates each with five setae; adanal setae ad 2 longest and thicKest, obtuse distally; adanal setae ad 1 longer and thicKer than anal setae, all these setae rough; adanal setae ad 3 minute, smooth.

Legs ( Fig. 1H ). Chaetome of legs of complete type. Setae d on femora I slightly remote from distal end of article.

Holotype: MADAGASCAR: Ranomafana National ParK , Vatoharanana, 4.x.2012, evergreen rain forest, 21°17'33.6"S 47°25'57.6"E, 1163 m, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina, MAG-209 ( DATE).

Paratypes: 3 specimens: MADAGASCAR: Ranomafana National Park, Vatoharanana, 3.x.2012, evergreen rain forest, 21°16'42.2"S 47°26'18.2"E, 1000 m, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina, MAG-208 (DATE); 2 specimens from the same locality, MAG-208 (ISB). Remarks: The new species is readily distinguishable by the foveolated surface of the body joined by weaK lines, the dilated median sigillar field of the prodorsum and the shape of the sensilli with heads ciliated at the end. N. lineatus is slightly similar to N. similis Niedbała, 2001 but the interlamellar and notogastral setae of N. lineatus are not dilated at the distal half, sensilli do not have a club-like head, the formula of genital setae is 6:3 (versus 5: 4 in N. similis ) and ad 2 setae are attenuated (versus ad 2 of equal width in N. similis ) (Niedbała 2001).

Figures

Fig.1. Notophthiracarus lineatus sp.n. (holotype):(A) prodorsum, dorsal view; (B) prodorsum, lateral view; (C) opisthosoma, lateral view; (D) fragment of surface of notogaster; (E) mentum of infracapitulum; (F) genitoaggenital plate; (G) anoadanal plate; (H) trochanter and femur of leg I.