Torrenticola anoplopalpa Fisher & Dowling

Fisher, J. Ray, Fisher, Danielle M., Skvarla, Michael J., Nelson, Whitney A. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2017, Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species, ZooKeys 701, pp. 1-496 : 1

Torrenticola anoplopalpa Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♂): USA, New Mexico, Catron County, Glenwood; Whitewater Picnic Area, 8 km east of Rt. 180, (33°22'22"N, 108°50'50"W), 12 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870084.

PARATYPES (0 ♀; 0 ♂):

Type deposition.

Holotype (♂) deposited in the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola anoplopalpa are similar to other members of the Rala Group ( T. boettgeri , T. dolichodactyla , T. kurtvietsi , T. keesdavidsi , T. lamellipalpis , and T. rala ) by being colorless, having incomplete hind coxal margins and being distributed in the southwest. Torrenticola anoplopalpa can be differentiated from all other Rala Group by having a more elongate subcapitulum (ventral length/width ♂ = 4.16 in T. anoplopalpa , 2.04-3.56 in others). Additionally, T. anoplopalpa can be differentiated from all other Rala Group by femur/genu (♂ 1.94 in T. anoplopalpa , 0.98-1.86 in others), except T. keesdavidsi (1.84-1.96).

Description.

Female unknown.

Male (Figure 20) (n = 1) (holotype only) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (640 long; 440 wide) ellipsoid and colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (152.5 long; 60 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (205 long; 72.5 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 375). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.45; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.17; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.54; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.83; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.34.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (322.5 long (ventral); 235 long (dorsal); 77.5 tall) elongate and colorless. Rostrum (110 long; 32.5 wide). Chelicerae (275 long) with curved fangs (40 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 4.16; rostrum length/width 3.38. Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) without extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (35 long); femur (77.5 long); genu (40 long); tibia (47.5 long; 17.5 wide); tarsus (12.5 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.94; tibia/femur 0.61; tibia length/width 2.71.

Venter - (775 long; 510 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (127.5 long; 70 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (70 long). Genital plates (160 long; 120 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (310 long (total); 180 long (medial)); Cx-3 (330 wide); anterior venter (270 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.82; anterior venter/genital field length 1.69; anterior venter length/genital field width 2.25; anterior venter/medial suture 3.86.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( anoplopalpa ) refers to the pedipalps, which lack tubercles on the femora and genua, an uncommon condition in Torrenticola , which usually have tuberculate ventral extensions (anoplos, G. unarmed; palpus, L. hand, feeler).

Distribution.

Southwest. New Mexico (probably also Arizona) (Figure 19).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola anoplopalpa and so this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. However, we were able to examine material preserved in GAW for morphology. The overall appearance, incomplete hind coxal margins, lack of coloration, and distribution, are consistent with placing this species in the Rala Identification Group.