Djeboa crocodilorum Pešić, Cook & Gerecke, 2013

Pešić, Vladimir, Cook, David, Gerecke, Reinhard & Smit, Harry, 2013, The water mite family Mideopsidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia): a contribution to the diversity in the Afrotropical region and taxonomic changes above species level, Zootaxa 3720 (1), pp. 1-75 : 25-28

Djeboa crocodilorum Pešić, Cook & Gerecke sp. nov.

( Figs. 13A–E , 38G )

Type series: Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, South Africa, DC 87 84 Eastern Transvaal, Krokodilspruit on gravel road SE Dullstroom, 6 m wide – sand and rocks, 7 ˚C, 28.v.1984 Cook.

Diagnosis: Dorsal shield oval (L/W ratio 1.1–1.2), with medial depression, lateral ridges extending to frontal and caudal margins; muscle scars, with well pronounced thickenings, located lateral to the edges of medial depression ( Fig. 38G ); gnathosomal bay V-shaped; tips of Cx-I extending beyond frontal margin. Palp ( Fig. 13C ): P-1 without a dorsal seta; P-2 ventral margin concave in proximal third, distally slightly convex, dorsal margin convexly bowed; P-3 distally higher than proximally, ventral margin strongly concave, dorsal margin irregularly shaped; P-4 ventral margin slightly concave. Legs: I-L ( Fig. 13D ) with I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.1, ventral margin proximally concave, distally slightly convex; IV-L: Fig. 13E ; swimming setae numbers: III-L-4, 2; III-L-5, 6; IV-L- 4, 3; IV-L-5, 3.

Description:

Male (holotype): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 13B ) L/W 400/356. Dorsal shield ( Figs. 13A , 38G ) L/W 356/ 309, L/W ratio 1.15; gnathosomal bay L 57. Gonopore L/W 70/14. Palp: total L 140; L/H, L/H ratio: P-1, 18/22, 0.8; P-2, 37/35, 1.05; P-3, 35/24, 1.4; P-4, 38/17, 2.2; P-5, 12/6, 2.0; chelicera total L 80; gnathosoma vL 66. Legs: dL of I-L: 35, 37, 32, 39, 57, 63; I-L-6 H 31, I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.1; dL of IV-L: 51, 62, 50, 69, 83, 99.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology: Named after the stream in which the species was collected.

Discussion: Djeboa crocodilorum sp. nov. differs from other species with a V-shaped gnathosomal bay in P-1 lacking a dorsal seta and P-3 distally higher than proximally. See also below for discussion diagnostic differences as compared with Djeboa nzia sp. nov.

Distribution: South Africa, known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 13 A – E. Djeboa crocodilorum sp. nov., male: A = dorsal shield; B = idiosoma, ventral view; C = palp; D = I-L; E = IV-L.

FIGURE 38 A – L. Photographs of dorsal shield. A – B. Djeboa globulipalpis sp. nov.: A— holotype female; B—paratype male; C Djeboa wondergemi sp. nov., female holotype. D – F. Djeboa nzia sp. nov.: D – E— female paratype, Fetekro, Côte d’Ivoire; F — paratype male, Kolomikro, Côte d’Ivoire. G Djeboa crocodilorum sp. nov., holotype male. H – J. Djeboa amethystica sp. nov.: H — female from Madagascar 135 a. I— holotype male; J— paratype female. K – L. Djeboa turmalinica sp. nov.: Kfemale holotype; L— female paratype.