Djeboa curtipalpis Pešić & Smit, 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 : 28

Djeboa curtipalpis Pešić & Smit sp. nov.

( Figs. 14A–E , 37C )

Type series: Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Ghana, Akaa Falls, 6˚ 10.516 N, 0˚ 11.723 W, 9.iii.2011 Smit.

Diagnosis: Dorsal shield oval (L/W ratio 1.1), without a medial depression; muscle scars on dorsal shield not pronounced, visible only as lightly whitish areas ( Fig. 37C ); colour pattern consisting of a blue (due to treatment with lactic acid in mounted specimens reddish) anterior patch ( Fig. 37C ); gnathosomal bay Y-shaped; tips of Cx-I ending slightly posterior to frontal margin Palp: Fig. 14D ; P-1 without a dorsal seta; P-2 with straight ventral and convexly bowed dorsal margin; P-3 proximally with an inflation, distally straight, maximum height proximally. Legs: I-L ( Fig. 14D ) with I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.8, ventral margin convex; IV-L: Fig. 14E ; swimming setae numbers: III-L-4, 3; III-L-5, 6; IV-L-4, 3; IV-L-5, 5.

Description:

Male (holotype): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 14B ) L/W 478/431. Dorsal shield ( Figs. 14A , 37C ) L/W 406/ 359, ratio 1.13; gnathosomal bay L 79. Gonopore very narrow, L/W 108/6. Palp: total L 162-165; L/H, L/H ratio: P-1, 22/22-23, 0.9-1.0; P-2, 42-43/34-35, 1.2-1.3; P-3, 35-37/25, 1.4-1.5; P-4, 49/19-20, 2.4-2.6; P-5, 14/9, 1.6; chelicera total L 84; gnathosoma vL 88. Legs: dL of I-L-2-6: 58, 46, 50, 65, 82; I-L-6 H 29, I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.8; dL of IV-L: 71, 66, 57, 83, 99, 92.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology: Named for its stocky palps.

Discussion: With the dorsal shield lacking a medial depression and with muscle scars visible only as lightly whitish areas, D. curtipalpis sp. nov. resembles D. amendano sp. nov (see below). The latter species can be distinguished by its comparatively long and more slender palpal segments, especially P-3 and P-4, and presence of a dorsal seta on P-1, Cx-III/IV with longitudinal striation, a wider gonopore and a different colour pattern of the dorsal shield (compare Figs. 37A–B with 37C).

Distribution: Ghana; known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 14 A – F. Djeboa curtipalpis sp. nov., male: A = dorsal shield; B = idiosoma, ventral view; C = palp; D = I-L- 2 - 6; F = IV-L.

FIGURE 37 A – L. Photographs of dorsal shield. A – B. Djeboa amendano sp. nov.: A — holotype male; B — paratype female. C. Djeboa curtipalpis sp. nov., holotype male. D. Djeboa depressa sp. nov., holotype male. E. Djeboa compressa K. Viets, 1914, female lectotype (SMF 43190). F. Djeboa expansipalpis (Cook, 1966), female, Tinbé, Côte d’Ivoire. G. Djeboa gledhilli. sp. nov., holotype male. H. Djeboa ghanaensis sp. nov., holotype male. I – J. Djeboa angulipalpis sp. nov.: I — holotype male; J — paratype female. K – L. Djeboa mandena sp. nov.: K— holotype male; L — paratype female.