Zimbabwecepheus maidii, Jordaan, 2017

Jordaan, Anine, 2017, Revision of the family Carabodidae (Acari: Oribatida) V (Fifth part). Redescription of Congocepheus latilamellatus Mahunka 1984, with complementary studies of C. ornatus, Mahunka 1983. Descriptions of Tanzaniacepheus gen. nov. and Zimbabwecepheus gen. nov., Zootaxa 4324 (2), pp. 315-330 : 323-327

Zimbabwecepheus maidii gen. nov., sp. nov.

( Figs.15–50 )

Etymology. The specific epithet is dedicated to Mrs Maidi Lili Schroetlin Beling, Paraguayan plastic artist, who managed to survive in a harsh world, and was respected for her qualities and remarkable work. Exceptional wife, inseparable companion, recently passed away.

Material examined. Holotype Female. “ Zimbabwe Umtali . II.1969. LEG R.MUSSARD; material deposited in the Collection of the MHNG; preserved in 70% ethanol”. ( Umtali is now Mutare, Zimbabwe) . Two Paratype adult females, same locality and date as Holotype; deposited in Collection of MHNG; preserved in 70 % ethanol. Material studied with SEM: three specimens, not deposited.

Diagnosis. Prodorsum. Trapezoidal; slightly elevated interlamellar process; large, anteriorly situated setae in initially directing forward, but then curving backward; in setae inserted antiaxially to medial plane, slightly internally to ro insertion level; ro setae curved, directing to medial zone; apical tips distanced from each other; sensillus uncinate. Smooth bothridial ring with bothridial tooth; lamellar tip not observed; lamellar furrow not discernible.

Notogaster. In dorsal view, anterior polyedral and posterior oval; convex in lateral view; d.sj narrow, slightly rectilinear; notogastral anterior depression absent.

Fourteen pairs of setae: c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2, h 3, p 1, p 2, p 3; c 2 setae directing laterally to medial zone; other setae directing backwards; all setae more or less similar length. Circumgastric depression clearly visible anterior to p 1, p 2, p 3, h 3 setae. Easily observed humeral apophysis; excavated V-shaped depression present.

Lateral region. Truncated lamellar tips; tutorium (tu) a prominent lamina with curving margin. Bothridium cup-shaped, opening directing downwards.

Ventral region. Slightly elevated epimera delimited by shallow furrow. Epimera 3–4 fused, epimeral chaetotaxy 3-1-3-3. Genital plate small relative to anal plate; four pairs of genital setae present in a simple line; all setae of more or less equal length. Aggenital setae observed posterior to genital opening. Three pairs of adanal seta; ad 3 distanced from ag setae. Clearly visible lyrifissures iad situated laterally and between ad 3 and ad 2.

Description. Measurements. SEM 528 µm (539–519) x 228 µm (223–231) (measurements on three specimens). Light microscopy: 536 µm (542–534) x 301 µm (297–305).

Shape. Elongate oval ( Figures 15–17 ).

Colour. Specimens without cerotegument, light brown to brown when observed in reflected light.

Cerotegument. Present: consistently thick layer with adhering soil particles, present all over body, femora I, II, and trochanter and femora III, IV. Rugous: prodorsum, anterior notogastral zone; c 1, c 2 setae insertion zones ( Figure 17 ) and femora I, II and trochanter and femora III, IV; tuberculate rugous-porous: notogaster behind c 1, c 2 setal insertions ( Figure 17 ), h.ap; amorphous: subcapitular zone surrounding h setae, epimeral zone, genital and anal plates (39–42). Absent: anterolateral border of lamellae (Lam) ( Figure 31 ), bothridial ring (bo.ri) ( Figure 31 ), anterior subcapitular zone ( Figure 36 ); tibiae and tarsi ( Figures 45, 46 ); posterior zone of femur I and posterior superior zone of femur II ( Figure 45, 46 ).

Setation. Elongate lanceolate with two elevated medial veins: ro, in ( Figure 24 ); elongate lanceolate with one elevated medial vein: notogastral setae ( Figure 27 ); ad setae ( Figure 26 ); both sides serrate, finely dentate: le setae ( Figures 19, 20, 22 )(observations from different angles were necessary to understand the shape and characteristics of these setae); flabellate: ge ( Figures 42, 43 ), ag (figure 44); barbate: epimeral ( Figure 38 ); simple: subcapitular ( Figure 36 ), anal ( Figure 39 ).

Prodorsum. Trapezoidal in dorsal view ( Figures 15 , 17 ), slightly convex in lateral view ( Figure 28 ), trapezoidal in frontal view ( Figure 30 ). slightly elevated interlamellar process (e.i.p) ( Figure 28 ); setae in situated anteriorly on e.i.p; large twisting in setae, initially directing forward, but later curving backward; in setae inserted antiaxially to medial plane and slightly internally to ro insertion level ( Figure 30 ); clearly visible ro setae, curved, directing to medial zone; apical tips distanced from one another ( Figures 18 , 30 ); le setae laterally ( Figures 19, 20 , 33 ); ro setal insertion at same level as le setal insertion. Sensillus (si) uncinate ( Figure 31 ). Smooth, well defined bothridial ring (bo.ri) with bothridial tooth ( Figure 31 ); p.p.d narrow, clearly visible. Rostral margin rounded to hexagonal ( Figure 30 ). Lamellae running laterally; lamellar tips absent.

Notogaster. Shape: in dorsal view anterior part polyedral and posterior part oval ( Figures 15 , 17 ); convex in lateral view ( Figure 28 ); d.sj narrow, curving slightly, well delimited; notogastral anterior depression (n.a.d) not present.

Fourteen pairs of setae: c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2, h 3, p 1, p 2, p 3; c 2 setae directed laterally to medial zone ( Figures 15 , 17 , 30 ); other setae directing backward ( Figures 15 , 17 ), all seate more or less the same length. Easily discernible circumgastric depression (s.c) observed in notogastral posterior part, in front of p 1, p 2, p 3, h 3 setae ( Figures 15 , 17 ). Humeral apophysis (h.ap) easily visible ( Figures 28, 31 ); excavated V-shaped depression present ( Figure 28 ).

Lateral region ( Figure 28 ). Lamellae (lam) with truncated tips clearly discernible. Tutorium (tu): a prominent lamina, margin curved ( Figure 28 ). Deep supratutorial depression (s.tu.d) running parallel to and between lamellae and tutorium; large pocket-shaped depression (a.tu.d) in anterior position. Pedotectum I, prominent extended lamina covering acetabulum I, rounded apex. Pd II small, ovoid lamina; small, triangular discidium (dis) visible, rounded apex.

Cup-shaped bothridia; bothridial opening directing downwards ( Figures 28, 31 ); smooth bothridial ring (bo.ri), incomplete with bothridial tooth (bo.to) well discernible. Barbed, cylindrical sensillus, arching to the top ( Figure 31 ). Long, extended humeral apophysis (h.ap), rounded apex, basally curved; anterior tip overlapping posterior bothridial part. Clearly observed large depression (dep) behind leg IV.

Ventral region ( Figures 16 , 35 ). Slightly elevated epimera delimited by shallow furrow (bo.1, bo.2, bo.sj). Epimera 3–4 fused, small epimeral furrow (bo.3); apo.1, apo.2, apo.sj and apo.3 clearly discernible. Epimeral chaetotaxy 3-1-3-3. Discidum well discernible; a.g.f clearly visible situated anterior to genital plate.

Genital plate small relative to anal plate; four pairs of genital setae in a simple line; all setae of more or less equal length; aggenital (ag) setae situated posterior to genital opening. Three pairs of adanal seta; ad 3 distant from ag setae. Sharply tipped polyhedral anal plate, two pairs of anal setae. Lyrifissures iad well discernible, situated laterally and between ad 3 and ad 2. Depressions (dep) clearly visible, situated laterally to genital and anal openings.

Legs ( Figures 45, 46, 48, 50 , Table II). All legs monodactyle. Setal formulae I(1-3-2-3-16 -1) (1-2-2); II(1-4-3- 3-15 -1) (1-1-2); III(2-3-1-2-14 -1) (1-1-0); IV(1-2-2-3-13 -1) (0-1-0). Trochanter of Leg II with one clearly discernible seta ( Figure 47 ). Femoral groove (Femur III) large ( Figure 50 ).

Remarks. The cerotegumental layer impeded clear observation of the c.s.s and the f.l.p. Observation of notogastral setae was complicated, due to their length and the fact that they are twisted; sticky residue on the setal surface also impeded clear observation.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 16. Zimbabwecepheus maidii gen. nov., sp. nov. Adult female. Optical microscopy. 15. dorsal view; 16. ventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and Methods. Scale bars: 15 – 16 = 190 µm.

FIGURES 17 – 27. Zimbabwecepheus maidii gen. nov., sp. nov. Adult female SEM. 17. dorsal view; 18. frontal view; 19. apical zone, lamella with le seta; 20. le seta, dorsal view; 21. cerotegumental layer, lamellar zone; 22. le seta, dorsolateral view; 23. interlamellar seta; 24. interlamellar seta, broken, showing ridges; 25. rostral seta; 26. notogastral seta; 27. notogastral seta, broken, showing ridges. Abbreviations: see Material and Methods. Scale bars: 17 = 300 µm; 18 = 50 µm; 19 = 20 µm; 20 = 10 µm; 21 = 5 µm; 22 = 10 µm; 23 = 40 µm; 24 = 5 µm; 25 = 10 µm; 26 = 10 µm; 27 = 10 µm.

FIGURES 28 – 34. Zimbabwecepheus maidii gen. nov., sp. nov .. Adult female, SEM observations. 28. lateral view; 29. notogastral setae; 30. frontal view; 31. bothridium and sensillus; 32. depressed zone of h. ap., higher magnification; 33. apical zone, prodorsum, showing ro and le setae; 34. subcapitulum apical zone. Abbreviations: see Material and Methods. Scale bars: 30 = 400 µm; 28 = 170 µm; 31, 33, 34 = 20 µm; 29 = 10 µm; 32 = 5 µm.

FIGURES 35 – 44. Zimbabwecepheus maidii gen. nov., sp. nov. Adult female, SEM observations. 35. ventral view; 36. subcapitulum; 37. epimeral zone; 38. epimeral setae 1 b; 39. anal-adanal zone; 40. ad 3 setae; 41. ad 1 setae; 42. genital zone; 43. genital setae; 44. aggenital setae. Abbreviations: see Material and Methods. Scale bars: 35 = 100 µm; 36 = 1.3 µm; 37 = 40 µm; 38 = 10 µm; 39 = 20 µm; 40 = 10 µm; 41 = 20 µm; 42 = 20 µm; 43 = 5 µm; 44 = 5 µm.

FIGURES 45 – 50. Zimbabwecepheus maidii gen. nov., sp. nov. Adult female, SEM observations. 45. leg I, antiaxial view; 46. leg II, antiaxial; 47. trochanter II; 48. leg III, antiaxial; 49. leg VI antiaxial; 50. femoral groove, setae v. Abbreviations: see Material and Methods. Scale bars: 45, 46, 48, 49 = 50 µm; 47, 50 = 10 µm.