PERLOHMANNOIDEA

van der Hammen, L., 1959, Berlese's Primitive Oribatid Mites, Zoologische Verhandelingen 40, pp. 1-93 : 51-52

6. PERLOHMANNOIDEA

Perlohmannoidea Grandjean, 1958.

Grandjean (1958) thoroughly studied the systematic position of Perlohmanniidae , Epilohmanniidae , Eulohmanniidae , and Lohmanniidae . He created a superfamily Perlohmannoidea for these families, which must be considered a collection of relics. The group has characters in common with the Nothroidea , but especially with the Phthiracaroidea . A diagnosis is given by Grandjean (1958, p. 116). The history of the conception of the present group is mainly dealt with in the chapter on the family Lohmanniidae .

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF PERLOHMANNOIDEA

1. Pseudodiagastric (i.e. ventrally the notogaster advances from each side in the direction of the plane of symmetry, without, however, reaching it; a "plicature" band passes between anal and adanal opening, which is the border of the notogaster; it continues anteriorly to the Shoulder of the hysterosoma). Large plethotrichic epimeres ....... Eulohmanniidae

- Not pseudodiagastric................2

2. Schizogastric1) (i.e. there are two ventral plates, separated by a transverse band). Latero-abdominal gland present.......... Epilohmanniidae

- Not schizogastric.................3

3. Habitus very characteristic: dorsal surface convex, base of prodorsum about just as wide as the anterior border of the notogaster, outline more or less elliptic. Elements of the ano-genital region not widely separated. The coxisternal region of the metapodosoma (III-IV) consists of one shield. Latero-abdominal gland absent .... ....... Lohmanniidae

- Habitus different: dorsal surface not strikingly convex, base of prodorsum narrower than the anterior border of the notogaster. The ano-genital region consists of a number of rather widely separated shields. The coxisternal shield of the metapodosoma consists of two parts that are longitudinally separated by a sternal band. Latero-abdominal gland present............ Perlohmanniidae

1) Schizogastry is a new word, created in order to indicate a special condition of the ventral plate. I remark that Oudemans (1917a) classified the Epilohmanniidae in a "superphalanx" Digastropeltae (an artificial unit); this would result in a corresponding adjective "digastropeltate" that is, however, too long to be of some use.