Carabocepheus Berlese

Mahunka, S., 1986, A survey of the family Carabodidae C. L. Koch, 1836 (Acari: Oribatida), Acta Zoologica Hungarica 32, pp. 73-135 : 131

Carabocepheus Berlese , 1913

Diagnosis: Rostrum elongate, lamellae thin, slightly arched towards each other. Tutorium present. All prodorsal setae thin, setiform, lamellar setae arising on the dorsal surface of lamellae. Interlamellar setae arising basally, near to trichobothrium. Bothridium large, protruding from the outline of prodorsum. Sensillus long, with a small, spiculate head. Prodorsum and notogaster with two pairs of condyles each both situated laterally. Fourteen pairs of notogastral setae present, five pairs in posteromarginal position. Epimeral setal formula: 3 —1—3— 3. Anogenital setal formula: 4 —7—2— 3. Lyrifissure iad situated near to anal aperture.

Type species: Carabodes (Carabocepheus) lounsburyi Berlese , 1913.

Remarks: It is well distinguishable from all Carabodoid genera by the shape of the rostrum, the laminiform tutorium, the prodorsal and notogastral condyles, the shape of prodorsal and notogastral setae, the Situation of the lyrifissure iad and, first of all, the form and ratio of the tarsus and tibia of all legs. On this ground the taxon is well comparable with the Otocepheoid genera. However, it is distinguished from all taxa by the shape of its trichobothrium and by the form and Situation of the condyles and the absence of the "spatium lamelliform expansion". Therefore the establishment of a new family is well justified.