Anisitsiellides alpinus, K & PešićK, 2023

K, Harry Smit & PešićK, Vladimir, 2023, Two new species of the water mite genus Anisitsiellides Lundblad, 1941 from Australia (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Anisitsiellidae), Acarologia 63 (3), pp. 751-756 : 754

Anisitsiellides alpinus sp. nov.

Zoobank: A74C3EF4-0DF1-4600-82D5-B3BA01D1F5BA

( Figs. 2 A-F)

Material examined. Holotype female, Small unnamed creek below summit of Mt. Kosciuszko , Mt Kosciuszko NP, New South Wales, Australia, 36°27.322′ S 148°15.929′

E, 2178 m a.s.l., 7 Dec. 2003, dissected and slide mounted (AMS). Paratype: one female,

Blue Lake Creek near outlet in Blue Lake, Mt Kosciuszko NP, New South Wales, Australia, 36°24.270′ S 148°18.745′ E, 1893 m a.s.l., 6 Dec. 2003 (RMNH).

Diagnosis — Dorsal shield with four pairs of glandularia; Cxgl-2 on anterior margin of Cx-II; P-4 without an anteroventral projection.

Description — Female – Dorsal and ventral shields present; dorsal shield L/W 684/469,

ratio 1.46, dorsal shield bearing the postocularia and four pairs of glandularia ( Fig. 2A ), four pairs of glandularia placed in dorsal furrow; ventral shield L/W 731/588, a separate sclerite present at anterior end of ventral shield, Cxgl-2 on anterior margin of Cx-II, close to Cx-I/Cx-II suture Cxgl-4 situated in ventral shield; gnathosomal bay L 103; medial suture line evident and extending to genital field, posterior lines of Cx-IV obliterated, no ridges extending anteriorly from the region of IV-leg insertions, distance between I-L insertions 393; one pair of glandularia incorporated in the posterior end of the ventral shield; genital field L/W 156/128, ratio 1.22, three pairs of acetabula, L Ac-1-3: 43, 41, 33.

Gnathosoma vL 131; palp: total L 290; dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 28/31, 0.9; P-2, 75/60,

1.25; P-3, 49/43, 1.14; P-4, 111/31, 3.6; P-5, 27/14, 1.9; L ratio P-2/P-4, 0.68. P-4 without a projection, with a small denticle-like extension near insertion of ventral setae ( Fig. 2E ). Chelicera with dorsal elevation in the proximal part of the basal segment ( Fig. 2D ), total L 168.

Legs — dL of I-leg-2-6: 55, 77, 114, 139, 142; dL of IV-leg-2-6: 78, 98, 142, 156, 116;

two very long swimming setae at distal end of IV-leg-5 ( Fig. 2F ).

Male — Unknown.

Etymology — Named for occurring in the high mountains.

Discussion — In regard to the dorsal shield with 4 pairs of glandularia and Cxgl-2 shifted to distal end of Cx-II, the new species resembles A. caledonia Harvey, 1990 . The latter species was originally described from Victoria and can be separated from A. alpinus sp. nov. in having

P-4 with an anteroventral projection and the suture lines Cx-II/III are absent ( Harvey 1990).

Figures

Figure 2 Anisitsiellides alpinus sp. nov., ♀ holotype, Small unnamed creek below summit of Mt. Kosciuszko. A – idiosoma, dorsal view; B – ventral shield; C – gnathosoma and chelicera; D –chelicera; E – palp; F – IV-leg-5 and -6. Scale bar = 100 μm.