Arrenurus (Arrenurus) rudiferus Koenike, 1898

Smit, H., 2012, New records of the water mite family Arrenuridae from the Afrotropical region, with the description of 11 new species and two new subspecies (Acari: Hydrachnidia), Zootaxa 3187, pp. 1-31 : 11

Arrenurus (Arrenurus) rudiferus Koenike, 1898

Material examined. GHANA. 0/1/0, pool Ankasa NP, 5° 17.407 N 2° 38.378 W, alt. 59 m a.s.l., 26-ii-2011 .

Remarks. Although my specimen agrees well with the specimen illustrated by K. Viets (1916, fig.52a), I consider its assigment as provisionally. Males have not been found in West Africa and Arrenurus females are notoriously difficult to identify. Moreover, the females from West Africa do no completely match the description of Koenike (1898). Females from Madagascar have genital plates which are gradually enlarged laterally, while those from West Africa have the genital plates of the same width over their whole length, with only a small widened area at the posterior margin. Moreover, females from Madagascar have a rounded posteromedial corner of the fourth coxal plates, while those of West Africa have an angular posteromedial corner. Arrenurus rudiferus is known from Madagascar, Cameroon and Ivory Coast.