Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970

Bochkov, Andre V., Mbalitini, Sylvestre G. & Verheyen, Erik, 2016, Review of the fur-mite genus Soricilichus Fain, 1970 (Acariformes: Chirodiscidae) — symbionts of the African shrews of the subfamily Crocidurinae (Soricomorpha: Soricidae), Zootaxa 4072 (2), pp. 235-253 : 242-247

Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970

(Figs. 1–10)

Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970: 300, 1971: 195 , figs. 239–241, 244, 245; Bochkov 2010: 239.

Diagnosis. Both sexes: setae cp longer than 70 (Figs. 1, 5). Setae c3 and cp situated on sclerotized parts of coxal fields III (Figs. 1, 5). Male: hysteronotal shield with slightly convex anterior margin (Fig. 1A). Adanal sclerite distinctly developed, with large median concavity ( Fig. 2 A, B). Ventro-lateral membranes of opisthosoma with widely rounded posterior angles ( Fig. 2 B). Female: setae h 2 9–10 long ( Fig. 6 A).

Description. MALE (10 specimens, Figs. 1–4). Body 325–345 long and 85–100 wide in lateral position at level of setal bases cp. Propodonotal shield 40–48 long. Idiosomal dorsum with 12–14 transverse striae. Setae c3 and cp situated on sclerotized parts of coxal fields III. Hysteronotal shield 63–75 long, with only slightly convex anterior margin. Setae d1 situated immediately anterior to or at anterior margin of this shield. Lengths of idiosomal setae: cp 85–100, c2 and d2 7–8, and h 2 25–30. Aedeagus about 11 long. Adanal sclerite distinctly developed, with large median concavity about 20 deep. Posterior angles of ventro-lateral opisthosomal membranes widely rounded. Legs III 125–130 long, legs IV 60 –65 long, tarsi III 30–33 long, tarsi IV 18–20 long. Lengths of solenidia: φ III 35 – 38, φ IV 20–25, and σ III 2–3.

FEMALE (10 specimens, Figs. 5–7 ). Body 450–470 long and 95–110 wide in lateral position at level of setal bases cp. Propodonotal shield 45–50 long. Idiosomal dorsum with 27–29 transverse striae. Setae c3 and cp situated on sclerotized parts of coxal fields III. Lengths of idiosomal setae: cp 70–90, c2, d2, ps3 7–8, and h 2 9–10. Legs III and legs IV about 85 long, tarsi III and tarsi IV about 27 long. Lengths of solenidia: φ III about 25, φ IV about 5, σ III 2–3.

Type material. Male holotype ( MRAC 139976), 1 male paratype ( MRAC 139976) and 3 female paratypes ( ZISP AVB 13-0129-025) from Scutisorex somereni (Thomas), (=syn. congicus), (Soricimorpha: Soricidae : Crocidurinae ), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Eastern Province, Ibembo, 02°38’58”N, 23°37’53”E, coll. A. Fain.

Non-type material. Ex Scutisorex somereni from DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 male ( ZISP AVB 13-0129-027), (host L 1342), Kivu Nord Province, Irangi, 01°53'S, 28° 27'E, 8 November 1968, coll. U. Rahm; 1 female ( ZISP AVB 13-0129-026), (host IR 123), same data as previous, 19 October 1969, coll. U. Rahm; 6 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-004), (host CRT 0708), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Jafira-Djabir, 1 June 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-005), (host CRT 0642), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Jafira-Djabir, 31 May 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 4 males, 6 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-006), (host CRT 0707), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Jafira-Djabir, 1 June 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 6 males, 14 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-007), (host CRT 0431), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Bomane, 22 May 2010, coll.

S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 10 males, 10 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-008), (host CRT 0393), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Bomane, 22 May 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-009), (host CRT 0663), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Lieki-Island, 1 June 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-010), (host CRT 00681), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Lieki-Yoko, 2 June 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-011), (host CRT 0752), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yoko, date unknown, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-012), (host LEG 3521), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yoko, date unknown, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15- 3010-013), (host LEG 3553), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yoko, date unknown, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-014), (host LEG 3570), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yoko, date unknown, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-015), (host CRT 0088), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yaikela, 5 May 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 3 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-016), (host CRT 0097), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yaikela, 6 May 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 4 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-017), (host CRT 0098), Eastern Province, Kisangani, Yaikela, 6 May 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-018), (host MKSG 061), North Kivu Province, Kasugho, 25 June 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 23 males, 18 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-019), (host JKSG 302), North Kivu Province, Kasugho, 24 July 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 3 males, 6 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-020), (host JKSG 358), North Kivu Province, Kasugho, 30 July 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-021), (host CRT 0477), Eastern Province, Kisangani, 23 May 2010, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-022), (host LEG 1955), Eastern Province, Kisangani, date unknown, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al.; 5 males, 5 females ( ZISP AVB 15-3010-023), (host R 27992), Bandudu, Masako, 03°00'41''S, 18°21'42''E, coll. S.G. Mbalitini et al. Ten females and 10 males in MRAC, other vouchers in ZISP and UMMZ.

Hosts and distribution. This species was described from Scutisorex somereni from DR of Congo ( Fain 1970, 1971) and had not been recollected since the original finding. We collected this species from the type host from various localities in DR of Congo (present paper).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970, details of male. A—opisthosoma in ventral view; B—same in lateral view; Cleg I in dorsal view; D—leg II in dorsal view; E—leg III in ventral view; F—leg IV in ventral view.

FIGURE 5. Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970, female. A—latero-dorsal view; B—latero-ventral view.

FIGURE 6. Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970, details of female. A—posterior end of opisthosoma in lateral view; B—leg III in ventral view; C—leg IV in ventral view.

FIGURE 7. Soricilichus scutisorex Fain, 1970, SEM photos of female. A—dorsal view; B—lateral view; C—posterior end of opisthosoma in frontal view; D—gnathosoma in dorsal view.