Protolimnesia inexspectata, Smit & Pesic, 2010

Smit, H. & Pesic, V., 2010, New Species Of Water Mites From Oman, With Some Zoogeographical Notes (Acari: Hydrachnidia), Acarologia 50 (2), pp. 151-195 : 165-167

Protolimnesia (s.s.) inexspectata n. sp.

( Figures 12 A-F, 13A-D)

Type material — Holotype male (idiosoma in fluid, gnathosoma and palps, first and fourth leg mounted), Wadi upstream of Al Mughsayl, 16°54.810 N 53°44.860 E, 5-xi-2008.

Diagnosis — Integument with with papillae arranged in a reticulated pattern; IV-Leg-6 with a heavy terminal seta, P-4 with six small setal tubercles, claws of legs with a few small teeth.

Description

Male — Idiosoma soft, L 881, W 669, integument with papillae arranged in a reticulated pattern. Dorsum with posterior muscle attachment platelet ( Fig. 12A ), 125 maximum in diameter. The two pair of eyes lenses lying below the integument. Coxae in four groups, Cx-I separated medially, Cx-I and Cx- II anteriorly with three setae. Glandulae Limnesiae located closer to anterior margin of Cx-III than to posterior margin. Medial margin of Cx-III+IV indented ( Fig. 12B ). Genital field ( Fig. 12F ) with three pairs of acetabula located on genital flaps, L 183, W 166. Genital field with a small pre- and post-genital sclerite. Excretory pore smooth. Palp: total L 446; L: P-1, 37; P-2, 129; P-3, 88; P-4, 146; P-5, 46; P-2 with a anteroventral seta on a small bulge, P-4 with six small setae on a small setal tubercle and one larger seta ( Fig. 12 C-D); capitulum ( Fig. 11E ) L 166; chelicera L 280. L of I-Leg-4-2-6 ( Fig. 13A ): 90, 107, 116,

Acarologia 50(2): 151–195 (2010)

143, 163; I-Leg-4 and -5 with two anteroventral setae. L of IV-Leg-2-6 ( Fig. 13C ): 127, 152, 209, 242, 234; IV-Leg-6 with claws and a heavy terminal setae ( Fig. 13D ). Claws of fourth leg simple, without clawlet and teeth, claws of other legs with a clawlet and a few small teeth ( Fig. 13B ).

Female — Unknown.

Etymology — Named for its unexpected finding.

Discussion — The water mite subfamily Protolimnesiinae appeared to have thus far a New World distribution ( Goldschmidt 2004), and its occurrence in Oman is therefeore unexpected. The similarity of the new species with previously described species of the genus is striking. This applies especially to the shape of the palp and venter. The new species from Oman is close to some South and Central American species of the subgenus Protolimnesia with genital field reaching or surpassing the caudal margin of Cx-IV, rounded and mediumsized acetabula, and distance between the acetabula approximately equal in males, e.g. P. oculata Goldschmidt, P. setifera Cook and P. pampaensis Smit (see Goldschmidt, 2004), but differs in the indented third+ fourth coxae, the stronger terminal seta of IV- Leg-6 and reticulate pattern of the integument.

Figures

FIGURE 12: Protolimnesia inexspectata n. sp., male: (A) – idiosoma, dorsal view; (B) – idiosoma, ventral view; (C-D) – palp; (E) – capitulum and chelicera; (F) – genital field. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 11: Limnesia pinguipalpis Cook, female: (A) – idiosoma, dorsal view; (B) – palp; (C) – IV-Leg-5-6. Scale bars = 200 µm (A), 50 µm (B-C).

FIGURE 13: Protolimnesia inexspectata n. sp., male: (A) – I-Leg-4-6; (B) – claws of I-Leg, (C) – IV-Leg-2-6; (D) – anterior part of IV-Leg-6; (E) – anterior part of IV-Leg-6. Scale bars = 100 µm.