Amblypalpus

Farzan, Sadegh, Asadi, Mahdieh, Ueckermann, Edward A., Seeman, Owen D. & Beard, Jennifer J., 2013, A review of Amblypalpus and Priscapalpus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), including two new species of Amblypalpus from Iran, Zootaxa 3716 (1), pp. 53-64 : 62-63

Key to brevipalpine genera and species of Amblypalpus

These taxa typically share: body with the posterior margin of the propodosoma as wide as anterior margin of hysterosoma, the latter tapering slightly posteriorly; a broad flat anterior prodorsal projection (rostral shield, absent in A. thymus ); ventral plate present (weakly developed or absent in Amblypalpus , Priscapalpus , Terminalichus ); a three or four segmented palp (two segmented in Priscapalpus ); and dorsosublateral setae absent (except c2 present in Cenopalpus ) (Mesa et al. 2009).

1. Ventral and genital shields distinct, separate, often sculptured; dorsal cuticle typically highly reticulate.................. 2

- Ventral and genital shields not distinct, sometimes fused; never both shields sculptured (genital shield sometimes weakly sculptured), ventral shield striate or smooth; dorsal cuticle not reticulate, either striate or tuberculate.................... 3

2. Seta c2 present; solenidia on tarsi I–II long and slender............................................... Cenopalpus

- Seta c2 absent; solenidia on tarsi I–II usually short.................................................. Brevipalpus

3. Setae c1, d1, e1 absent...................................................................... Terminalichus

- Setae d1 present, at least one of setae c1 and e1 present....................................................... 4

4. Dorsal cuticle heavily sculptured, tuberculate; palps 2-segmented, palp tarsus with 2 distal phaneres and 1 dorsal seta; anal plates well defined setae ps1 inserted on tubercle, and ps setae arranged transversely; empodia claw-like...... Priscapalpus

- Dorsal cuticle reticulate or striate; palps 3-segmented, palp tarsus with 1–2 phaneres; anal plates weakly developed, setae ps1 not inserted on tubercle, ps setae arranged longitudinally; empodia pad-like.......................... Amblypalpus … 5

5. Prodorsum without anterior projection (= rostral shield absent); 2 pairs of 4a setae; genital setae arranged longitudinally................................................................................ Amblypalpus iraniensis sp. nov.

- Prodorsum with anterior projection (= rostral shield present); one or two pairs of 4a setae; genital setae arranged transversely.................................................................................................... 6

6. Some dorsal setae much longer than others; palp tarsus with two phaneres; seta c1 present............................ 7

- All dorsal setae short, subequal in length; palp tarsus with 1 phanere; seta c1 present or absent........................ 8

7. Setae f3 present; seta e1 short; genital shield smooth and fused with ventral shield........... Amblypalpus thymus sp. nov.

- Setae f3 absent; seta e1 long; genital shield reticulate and separate from ventral shield....... Amblypalpus thomissus Meyer

8. Setae c1 present; 2 pairs of 4a setae; dorsal cuticle weakly sculptured; rostral shield not extending over coxa I....................................................................... Amblypalpus narsikulovii Mitrofanov and Strunkova

- Setae c1 absent; 1 pair of 4a setae; dorsal cuticle reticulate; rostral shield extends over coxa I......................................................................................... Amblypalpus masakii (Ehara and Ueckermann)