Corresponding author: Sergey G. Ermilov (
Academic editor: V. Pesic
The oribatid mite genus
Ermilov SG, Shtanchaeva UY, Subías LS, Anichkin AE (2014) The family Ctenobelbidae (Acari, Oribatida), with description of a new species and discussion on systematic placement and taxonomic status of the genus
The family
The primary purpose of paper is to discuss the systematic placement and taxonomic status of the subgenus
During taxonomic survey of oribatid fauna of the Bu Gia Map National Park in southern Vietnam (a brief geographical and floristic descriptions of this park was given earlier –
We provide a new diagnosis of the family
Six specimens (holotype: male; five paratypes: four females and one male) of
Soil samples were collected by taking 10 soil cores (diameter: 7.8 cm; depth: 10 cm). The samples collected were left in the metal cores to minimize disturbance during transportation from the field to the laboratory. Oribatid mites were extracted into 75 per cent ethanol using Berlese’s funnels with electric lamps (40 W) during ten days. Specimens of the new species were found in three samples out of 10.
Holotype and paratypes were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides for measurement and illustration. The body length was measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the ventral plate. The notogastral width refers to the maximum width in dorsal aspect (without pteromorphs). Lengths of body setae were measured in lateral aspect. All body measurements are presented in micrometers. Formulae for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanter–femur–genu–tibia–tarsus (famulus included). Formulae for leg solenidia are given in square brackets according to the sequence genu–tibia–tarsus. General terminology used in this paper follows that of Grandjean (summarized by
However, mites of the family
The main generic morphological character of
Body length 315–365 × 199–232. Dorsal body surface smooth, ventral body surface microfoveolate. Rostrum rounded. Transcostula poorly developed. All prodorsal setae setiform, barbed; lamellar setae longest and thickest. Sensilli setiform, ciliate Notogastral setae
Leg setation and solenidia of adult and tritonymph
Leg | Trochanter | Femur | Genus | Tibia | Tarsus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | ( |
( |
( |
||
II | ( |
( |
( |
||
III | ( |
||||
IV |
Roman letters refer to normal setae (
The holotype (ethanol) is deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia; two paratypes (ethanol) are deposited in the collection of the Siberian Zoological Museum, Novosibirsk, Russia; three paratypes (ethanol) are deposited in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia.
The specific name “
The new species is most similar to
Prodorsum with long, parallel one pair of costulae. Rostrum rounded or dentate. Lamellar setae inserted on the costular ends. Sensilli bifurcate or setiform, with cilia (three to 25) or long branches unilaterally. Tutoria absent. Cerotegument presented by granules or reticulate ornamentation, rarely absent. Anterior margin of notogaster with one pair of tubercles. Ten pairs of notogastral setae present; they of diverse shape (thickened or leaf-like or with long, bent thin tip) or simple. Pedotecta I and II well developed. Epimeral formula: 3–1–3–3 (rarely: 3–1–3–4 or 3–1–4–4); epimeral setae
Type genus:
1 | Aggenito-adanal region with strong neotrichy (more than 20 pairs of setae present) | subgenus |
– | Aggenito-adanal region with less than nine pairs of setae | 2 |
2 | Sensilli bifurcate | subgenus |
– | Sensilli setiform, with long branches or cilia unilaterally | 3 |
3 | Body surface reticulate | subgenus |
– | Body surface not reticulate | 4 |
4 | Body surface without cerotegument; lamellar setae inserted at a distance from rostral and interlamellar setae on similar length | subgenus |
– | Body surface with cerotegument; lamellar setae inserted close to rostral setae and at a distance from interlamellar setae | subgenus |
1 | Heterotrichy of notogastral setae present: |
|
– | Heterotrichy of notogastral setae absent: all setae of medium size, similar in length; aggenito-adanal region with six to seven pairs of setae (including three to four pairs of aggenital setae), adanal neotrichy absent; adanal lyrifissures located in paraanal or apoanal position | 2 |
2 | Rostrum with several teeth; lamellar setae longer than rostral and interlamellar setae; adanal lyrifissures located in apoanal position; body size: 450 × 220 | |
– | Rostrum rounded; lamellar setae shorter than rostral and interlamellar setae; adanal lyrifissures located in paraanal position | 3 |
3 | Notogastral setae |
|
– | Notogastral setae |
The authors are thankful to two anonymous reviewers and Prof. Dr. Andrei Tolstikov (Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia) for valuable comments on the manuscript, and to the staff of the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve and the Bu Gia Map National Park for support during the field work. The reported study was supported by RFBR, research project No. 14-04-31183 mol_a.