Male holotype (ZISP L-T-9, AVB 10-0803-012), 7 male and 12 female paratypes (ZISP AVB 10-0803-012, 1-19) from Hapalomys delacouri Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae) [fur], VIETNAM: Binh Phuoc Province, Bu Gia Map National Park, 13 km NE Bu Gia Map Village, 540 m a.l.s., 12°11'37"N, 107°12'21"E, 13 January 2010, coll. A.V. Abramov (ZISP 99485). Mites removed by A.V. Bochkov.

Holotype and 17 paratypes deposited in ZISP, one female and one male paratypes in UMMZ.

Male (holotype; paratypes = 7; Fig. 1). Body 360 long (350–385), 105 wide (100–110). Prescapular shield 110 long (105–110) with distinct median process. Postscapular shield 62 long (62-65), covered by 8-10 transverse markings; 2 anterior markings interrupted in median part. Median apodeme present. Hysteronotal shield 155 long (150–160), completely covered by few distinct striae from anterior margin to level of setal bases e2; these striae transverse in anterior one third of shield, oblique in middle, and almost longitudinal in posterior one third. Supranal concavity completely sclerotized. Shortest distance between postscapular and hysteronotal shields 10 (10–25). Setae h2 155 long (140–160); membranous setae h3 well developed, about 35 wide, slightly overlapping, without ribs. Terminal cleft 30 long (30–37). Opisthosomal lobes about 20 maximum wide. Cuticle between coxal fields II not striated. Coxal apodemes III fused to each other. Aedeagus about 45 long. Diameter of adanal suckers about 8. Legs III and IV about 75 and 90 long, respectively. Tarsus III without dorso-subapical projection. Tarsi III 20 long (20–23) and tarsi IV 25 long (25–30). All setae of tarsi III and IV shorter than respective segments, excluding pretarsi; setae d III and d IV spur-like, setae e IV microspines. Solenidia ω1 I, II 12–15 long, ω3 I about 25 long, φ I, II 40–45 long.

Female (ranges for 10 paratypes, Fig. 2). Body 425–440 long, 100–115 wide. Prescapular shield 110–120 long. Anterior margin of prescapular shield with distinct median process. Postscapular shield about 75 long, covered by 7-9 transverse markings. Median apodeme present. Idiosomal surface between postscapular and hysteronotal shields with 3–4 transverse lines. Hysteronotal shield 70–80 long, crossed by 8–11 oblique striae, 3 posterior striae very short, situated medially. Hysteronotum posterior to hysteronotal shield with 18–20 transverse striae, sclerotized, but less than this shield properly. Opisthosoma about 180 long. Posterior end of opisthonotum without lateral sclerotized patches. Cuticle between coxal fields II not striated. Opisthogaster without scales or verrucae. Setae h2 short, about 8 long, subequal in length to other opisthosomal setae. Setae ps1, ps2, and 4b absent. Legs III and IV subequal, 65–70 long. Setae d III and d IV about 2 times shorter than respective tarsi, excluding pretarsus. Solenidia ω1 I, II about 12 long, ω3 I about 24 long, φ I, II about 8 long.

The species name is derived from the generic name of the host and is a noun in apposition.

This new species belongs to the “apodemi” species group, which includes twelve species parasitizing mostly Eurasian murines (Murinae). All species in this group have a median process on the anterior margin of the prescapular shield. In males, apodemes III are fused to each other; in females, the cuticle between coxal fields II is without distinct striations, setae ps1 and ps2 are either present or absent, setae h2 are not longer than other opisthosomal setae (Bochkov and OConnor 2006; Bochkov et al. 2011). Among species of the “apodemi” group, the new species is close to Afrolistrophoroides laonastes Bochkov et al., 2011 from Laonastes aenigmamus Jenkins et al. (Rodentia: Diatomyidae) (Bochkov et al. 2011). In both species, the postscapular shield is distinctly developed and possesses several transverse markings and lacks a median sclerotized band; seta d III is much shorter than the respective tarsus (excluding the pretarsus); in males, the hysteronotal shield is ornamented in posterior part, setae h3 are strongly widened and slightly overlap each other; in females, setae 4b, ps1 and ps2 are absent, the ventral side of opisthosoma has no verrucae or scales. Afrolistrophorus hapalomys sp. n. differs from A. laonastes by the following characters. In both sexes of A. hapalomys, the postscapular and hysteronotal shields are covered by a few markings or striae (less than 15), setae d IV of tarsi IV are at least twice as short as the respective segment; in males, the supranal concavity is completely sclerotized, tarsi IV are without projections; in females, most striae of the hysteronotal shield are oblique, the posterior end of the opisthonotum is devoid of the lateral sclerotized patches. In both sexes of A. laonastes, the postscapular and hysteronotal shields are covered by numerous markings or striae (more than 20), setae d IV of tarsi IV are subequal or longer than the respective segment; in males, the supranal concavity is not sclerotized, tarsi IV have a distinct subapical projection; in females, striae of the hysteronotal shield are relatively straight, the posterior end of the opisthonotum has a pair of the lateral sclerotized patches.

Figure 1. 

Afrolistrophorus hapalomys sp. n., male holotype, A dorsal view B ventral view C tarsus III in ventral view D tarsus IV ventral view. Scale bars: A and B = 50 μm; C and D = 25 μm.

Figure 2. 

Afrolistrophorus hapalomys sp. n., female, A lateral view B opisthosoma in dorsal view C ovipore D tibia and tarsus III in ventral view. Scale bars: A and B = 100 μm; C and D = 50 μm.

Female holotype (ZISP My-T-37, AVB 10-0803-012) and 1 female paratype (ZISP AVB 10-0803-012) from Hapalomys delacouri Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae) [skin], VIETNAM: Binh Phuoc Province, Bu Gia Map National Park, 13 km NE Bu Gia Map Village, 540 m a.l.s., 12°11'37"N, 107°12'21"E, 13 January 2010, coll. A.V. Abramov (ZISP 99485). Mites removed by A.V. Bochkov.

Holotype and single paratype deposited in ZISP.

Female (holotype, 1 paratype). Body 435 long (410), 245 wide (230). Body 1.8 times longer than wide. Setae vi, ve, d1, and d2 10–12 wide at base; si and se2 about 7 wide at base; c1 and c2 about 5 wide at base, e1, e2, and f2 about 3 wide at base. Apices of setae si reaching level of setal bases d1, apices of setae se reaching level of setal bases c2. Approximate distances between bases of setae: vi–vi 25, si–si 22, c1–c1 17, c1–c2 50, d1–d1 15, d2–d2 50, c1–d1 52, d1–d2 17. Setal bases f1 situated close to e2 than to e1, distance e1–f1 about 50, f1–e2 about 13. Setae f2 situated at lateral margins of idiosoma. Lengths of setae: vi 75 (70), ve 90 (93), si 115 (110), se 87 (85), c1 63 (75), c2 125 (115) – all distinctly longitudinally striated; d1 115 (117) and d2 about 125, membranous, without striae, e1 about 27, e2 about 75, f1 about 60, f2 about 15, h1 about 12, h2 310 (315), ps1 and ps2 about 11, ps3 (hook-like) about 15, g1 about 6, g2 about 8, 1a, 2a 25–28, 3a about 80, and 4a about 75, ag1 and ag3 8–11, ag2 about 12. Setae 3a and 4a slightly thickened. Apical segment of leg I without ventral projection. Setation for legs II-IV (solenidia in parentheses): tarsi 7(1)-6-6, tibiae 6-6-6, genua 7 (1)-6-5, femora 5-3-3, trochanters 3-3-3, coxae 4-2-2.

This epithet refers the unusual external morphology of this species – mirabilis (Latin, wonderful).

The subgenus Radfordia is separated onto two species groups, “ensifera” (setation of coxae II-IV 3-2-2) and “lancearia” (3-1-2) (Bochkov and Fain 2003; Bochkov 2009). The new species distinctly differs from all known species of both groups by the setation of coxae II-IV(4-2-2), position of setae f2 on the lateral margins of the opisthosoma (vs. distant from the lateral margins in all other species) and the bases of f1 and e2 which are situated close to each other (vs. distant in all other species). Therefore, we establish for this new species a new species group mirabilis.

Figure 3. 

Radfordia mirabilis sp. n., female holotype, A dorsal view B ventral view C vulva. Scale bars: A and B = 100 μm; C = 50 μm.