Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) heterotricha, Liu, 2016

Liu, Dong, 2016, Mesoplophoroidea (Acari, Oribatida) of China, Zootaxa 4084 (4), pp. 519-539 : 525-526

Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) heterotricha sp. nov.

( Figs 3A–C )

Diagnosis. Surface of body punctate; lateral carinae of prodorsum absent; sensilli, lamellar and interlamellar setae long, thick and smooth; rostral setae thin; exobothridial setae minute, shorter than diameter of bothridia; in–in>ro– ro; “notogastral” setae similar in shape as interlamellar setae, except setae c 3 thin; Setae h of mentum shorter than distance between them; formula of genital setae 6: 1; eight pairs of ventral setae unequal in length; “ano-adanal” plates with two pairs of smooth setae.

Description. Measurements. Holotype: Prodorsum: length 195, width 135, height 82, setae: ss 108, ro 40, le 65, in 80, ex 4; mutual distance: in–in 85, le–le 126, ro–ro 75; “notogaster”: length 302, width 260, height 252; setae: c 1 88, c 2 82, c 3 50, c p 72, d 1 90, d 2 90, e 1 80, e 2 70; ventral region: an 1 20, an 2 20; genito-aggenital plate 65×35, “ano-adanal” plate 70×30. Paratypes (n=3): Prodorsum: length 200–205, width 135–142, height 85–88; “notogaster”: length 310–320, width 255–265, height 250–255.

Integument. Colour yellowish. Surface of body punctate.

Prodorsum ( Figs 3 A –B ). Lateral carinae absent; sensilli (ss) long, thick, smooth and pointed distally; interlamellar and lamellar setae (in and le) long, thick and smooth; rostral setae (ro) thin and smooth; exobothridial setae (ex) minute, shorter than diameter of bothridia; comparative length: ss>in>le>ro>ex; mutual distance of setae: le–le> in–in>ro–ro.

“Notogaster” ( Fig. 3 A ). 8 pairs “notogastral” setae present, all long (c 1/ c 1– d 1≈0.9), thick and smooth, except setae c 3 shorter and much thinner; setae c 1– c 3 form almost equally spaced row.

Ventral region ( Figs 3 A, C ). Setae h of mentum shorter than distance between them. Seven pairs of genital setae (g) with formula: 6: 1; ventral plate with eight pairs of setae unequal in length; “ano-adanal” plates with two pairs of smooth setae.

Legs. Chaetotaxy of legs complete; setal counts for leg segments: I: 0-3-3(2)-4(1)-15(3); II: 0-4-2(1)-2(1)- 13(2), III: 2-3-2(1)-2(1)-10, IV: 2-3-2-2-8; tarsi monodactylous.

Material examined. Holotype: adult ( NIGA, in alcohol), CHINA, Hainan Province, Lingshui , from litter under Alsophila sp., 15 May 2013, leg. Yuting Huang . Paratypes: 1 adult ( NIGA, in alcohol), same data as holotype ; 2 adults ( NIGA, in alcohol), from moss in the tree hole, other data same as holotype.

Type deposition. Type specimens are deposited in NIGA.

Etymology. The new specific name “ heterotricha ” refers to the different shapes of prodorsal and “notogastral” setae.

Remarks. This new species is close to Mesoplophora (M.) frogneri Niedbała, 2004 from Sarawak, Malaysia in having similar shape of sensilli, most prodorsal and “notogastral” setae; exobothridial setae shorter than diameter of bothridia; lamellar setae situated closer to interlamellar setae; in–in>ro–ro; eight pairs of ventral setae present; aggenital position without setae; and formula of genital setae 6:1. However, this new species can be easily distinguished by: (1) lateral carinae of prodorsum absent (versus present in M. (M.) frogneri ); (2) rostral setae much thinner than interlamellar setae (versus similar in shape as interlamellar setae); (3) setae c 3 much thinner than other “notogastral” setae (versus similar in shape); (4) setae c 1– c 3 form almost equally spaced row (versus setae c 3 closer to anterior border).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) heterotricha sp. nov.: A, lateral view of body (legs removed); B, prodorsum, dorsal view; C, ventral region. Scale bars = 100 µm.