Djeboa elephantina 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 : 33-35

Djeboa elephantina Pešić, Cook & Gerecke sp. nov.

( Figs. 18A–G , 40A–B )

Type series: Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Côte d’Ivoire, River N’zi near Tinbé (T), drift night, 17.viii.1977 Statzner. Paratypes: same locality as holotype, 4.v.1977 Statzner, 0/1/0 (dissected and slide mounted); same locality as holotype, drift day, 12.ix.1977 Statzner, 0/1/0 (dissected and slide mounted); Côte d’Ivoire, River N’zi near Ouokokro (O), drift night, 27.i.1977 Statzner, 0/1/0 (dissected and slide mounted).

Diagnosis: Dorsal shield elongate (L/W ratio 1.2), with medial depression ( Figs. 40A–B ); muscle scars with slightly pronounced thickenings, located anterior and posterior to the postocularia; gnathosomal bay of a modified Y-shape, gradually narrowing in posterior half, similar to D. ferruginea ; tips of Cx-I ending posterior to frontal margin; medial margin of Cx-IV reduced to a median angle; Cx-III and -IV with a few longitudinal striae (four pairs on Cx-IV). Palp ( Figs. 18D–E ): P-1 with a dorsal seta; P-2 with concave ventral and convexly bowed dorsal margin; P-3 maximum height proximally, ventral margin basally with a kink, from here to distal edge straight; P-4 equally narrowing from base to tip; ventral margin of gnathosoma with a long, pointed projection ( Fig. 18E ). Legs: I-L ( Fig. 18F ) with I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.2-2.4, basally narrowed, distally thickened; IV-L: Fig. 18G ; swimming setae numbers: III-L-4, 5-6; III-L-5, 7; IV-L-4, 5; IV-L-5, 5.

Description:

Male (holotype): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 18B ) L/W 441/375. Dorsal shield ( Fig. 40A ) L/W 356/306, ratio 1.16; gnathosomal bay L 79. Gonopore L/W 88/15. Palp: total L 136-141; L/H, L/H ratio: P-1, 19/22-23, 0.8-0.9; P-2, 35-37/32, 1.07-1.14; P-3, 29/20-22, 1.36-1.46; P-4, 40-42/17-18, 2.34-2.37; P-5, 13-14/8,17-1.8; chelicera total L 78; gnathosoma vL 75. Legs: dL of I-L-2-6: 35, 38, 45, 53, 72; I-L-6 H 29, I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.4; dL of IV-L- 4-6: 68, 74, 89.

Female (from River N’zi near Tinbé): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 18C ) L/W 509/452. Dorsal shield ( Fig. 18A ) L/W 444/378, ratio 1.18; gnathosomal bay L 82. Gonopore L/W 102/69, ratio 1.48; egg maximum diameter (n = 2) 106-108. Palp: L/H, L/H ratio: P-2, 41/36, 1.13; P-3, 34/25, 1.38; P-4, 43/19, 2.33; P-5, 15/8, 2.0; chelicera total L 86; gnathosoma vL 85. Legs: dL of I-L-2-6: 32, 38, 41, 51, 68; I-L-6 H 30, I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.2; dL of IV-L- 2-6: 72, 61, 77, 97, 108.

Etymology: Named after the country where the type locality is located (Greek elephas meaning “ ivory”).

Discussion: A long, pointed ventral projection on the gnathosoma ( Fig. 18E , arrow) is also found in D. maromandia sp. nov (see below). The latter differs in a dorsal shield with weakly pronounced muscle scars and a medial depression associated with a colour patch restricted to the anterior half (see Figs. 40C–D ). Further differences concern the tips of Cx-I, extending beyond frontal margin, and the gnathosomal bay, abruptly narrowed in posterior third.

Distribution: Côte d’Ivoire.

Figures

FIGURE 18 A – G. Djeboa elephantina sp. nov. (B, E = male, A, C – D, F – G = female): A = dorsal shield; B = idiosoma, ventral view; D = palp (P- 1 lacking); E = palp and gnathosoma (arrow showing projection on ventral margin of gnathosoma); F = I-L; G = IV-L.

FIGURE 40 A – L. Photographs of dorsal shield. A – B. Djeboa elephantina sp. nov.: A— male holotype; B— male paratype. C – D Djeboa maromandia sp. nov.: C— male paratype; D— male holotype. E – F. Djeboa coelestinica sp. nov.: E— holotype male; F— paratype female. G – H. Djeboa vanilla sp. nov.: G — holotype male; H — female paratype. I – J. Djeboa bimaculata (Cook, 1966): I — male, Ouokoukro, Côte d’Ivoire; J — female, Ouokoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. K – L. Djeboa unimaculata (Cook, 1966), female, Fetekro, Côte d’Ivoire.