identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
283387DAFFB2FFB89E66FE5CFE2EFBA2.text	283387DAFFB2FFB89E66FE5CFE2EFBA2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Indopacifica impedimenta Pfingstl & Minor & Schäffer & Shimano 2023	<div><p>Indopacifica impedimenta n. sp. Pfingstl, Minor &amp; Shimano  sp. nov.</p><p>LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A5170D5A-5D24-4E03-A744- C2AF02FD8815</p><p>Type material/locality</p><p>Holotype. Adult female (length 350 µm, width 234 µm);  paratypes: 2 adult males (length 344/356 µm, width 228/231 µm)/ New Zealand, Auckland, Waiheke Island, Anzac Bay,  next to Obrien Road; 6 December 2022; green muddy algae growing on mangrove roots ( Conocarpus erectus). Preserved in ethanol and deposited at the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection in Auckland.</p><p>Etymology. The specific name  “impedimenta ” is given as noun in apposition. It is derived from the Latin meaning ’baggage’ or “impediment.” It first refers to the event of two of the authors having lost their baggage on their trip to New Zealand for the XVI International Congress of Acarology (ICA) 2022 and second, it is a tribute to this specific congress, which was successfully held despite the impediments at that time of existing worldwide COVID-19-crisis.</p><p>Diagnosis. Habitus and setal formulas typical for the genus (Pfingstl et al. 2019). Cerotegument conspicuous but fine granules over whole body. Prodorsal setae minute. Sensillum clavate, distally barbed. Slender triangular longitudinal elevation on prodorsum. Gastronotic region round in dorsal view, large but inconspicuous transversal depression on anterior part of notogaster. Median longitudinal depression on epimeron I, framed by a pair of parallel ridges. Two pairs of adanal setae. Claws long, thin, sickle-shaped with one proximoventral tooth.</p><p>Description of the adult</p><p>Measurements. Females (N = 1), length: 350 µm, width: 234 µm; males (N = 2), length: 344–356 µm (mean 350 µm), width: 228–231 µm (mean 230 µm).</p><p>Integument. Colour medium brown. Fine granular cerotegument covering whole body.</p><p>Prodorsum (Figure 1a). Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, clearly demarcated from remainder of prodorsum by transverse ridge. Pair of anteriorly converging faint prodorsal ridges, difficult to observe. A broad but faint triangular median longitudinal elevation reaching from interbothridial area to demarcation of rostrum. Rostral (ro) and lamellar seta (le) minute, difficult to observe. Interlamellar seta (in) minute, exobothridial seta (ex) vestigial. Bothridium large cup with lateral incision. Bothridial seta (ca. 45 µm) slightly clavate, distally barbed, and laterally flattened.</p><p>Gnathosoma. Chelicera chelate, with two teeth on each digit. Setae cha and chb of approximately same length, both dorsally slightly pectinate. Palp setal formula 0-2-1-3-8 (+ solenidion ω). Distal part of rutellum developed as thin, triangular, slightly inwardly curved membrane with longitudinal incision. Setae a - and m long, smooth (ca. 17 µm). Mentum regular, finely granular, seta h simple, long (ca. 28 µm).</p><p>Notogastral region (Figure 1a). Notogaster rounded, nearly circular in dorsal view. Dorsosejugal articulation incomplete. A semicircular transverse cuticular depression adjacent to anterior border of notogaster. A median lighter rectangular area with irregular contours adjacent to anterior border of notogaster. Fourteen pairs of thin, short setiform notogastral setae (length 5–10 µm), c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1–3, p 1–3; c 3 absent. Orifice of opisthonotal gland gla anterior to seta la. Lyrifissure im laterally between setae la and lm.</p><p>Podosoma and venter (Figure 1b). Median longitudinal, rectangular-shaped depression reaching from epimeres I to epimeres III, on epimeres I this depression is laterally delimited by a pair of distinct cuticular ridges. Indistinct circular depression on posterior border of epimeres III, anterior of genital orifice. Epimeral setation 1-0-1-1, setae 1a long (ca. 35 µm), fine, setae 3a and 4a very short (5–8 µm). Three pairs of short (ca. 5 µm), fine genital setae present. Preanal organ triangular in ventral view, interior part anchorshaped. Two pairs of minute (1–3 µm) adanal setae ad 1–2 and two pairs of minute (1–3 µm) anal setae an 1–2 present. Lyrifissure iad oblique, framing anterior border of anal opening.</p><p>Lateral aspect (Figure 1c). A broad lateral furrow reaching from dorsal to ventral sejugal scissure. Pedotectum I PtI present, round, small, pedotectum II absent. Lateral enantiophysis consisting of two opposite projections (s 1, s 2); the anterior rounded, the posterior pointed and elongated. Discidium di developed as prominent conical bulge.</p><p>Legs (Figure 2). Monodactylous, long hook-like slender claw with one acute distinct proximoventral tooth and slight serration on proximal dorsal edge. Cerotegument granular. No porose areas detectable. Indistinct ventral carina on femur I and II. Lateral setae l of all genua scale-like, broadened, short, and blunt. Setation (first set of numbers, given in the order trochanter-femur-genu-tibiatarsus) and solenidia (second set of numbers, given in the order genu-tibia-tarsus): Leg I (0-3-2-3-18) (1-2-2), leg II (0-3-2-3-15) (1-1-1), leg III (1-2-1-2-13) (1-1-0), leg IV (1-2-1-3-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Remarks</p><p>The new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by its minute notogastral setae (5–10 µm), all other species show distinctly longer setae (10–16 µm). There is also a slender triangular median longitudinal elevation on the prodorsum of the new species, such an elevation is lacking in  Indopacifica iohanna and  I. pantai and is conspicuously less developed in  I. parva,  I. mauritiana,  I. taiyo and  I. tyida . An obvious depression on epimeres I is present in all  Indopacifica species but in none is it framed by distinct straight parallel ridges as shown in the new species.</p><p>Distribution. This species has yet only been found in a single location on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. A wider distribution along the warmer northern shorelines of the North Island should be considered. This is also the first record of a member of the family  Selenoribatidae from New Zealand and represents the southernmost occurrence of this group.</p><p>Ecology. Specimens occurred in algae patches growing on mangrove roots; therefore, we can assume that this species prefers to dwell in mangrove habitats. Moreover, the claws of this species are slender and weakly curved, which is indicative for typical mangrove-dwelling oribatid mites (Pfingstl et al. 2020).</p><p>Description of juveniles</p><p>Common features of juvenile stages. Colour brown. Integument plicate and soft, except for centrodorsal plate. Whole cerotegument showing dense granulation. Prodorsum triangular, rostrum rounded. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae minute, exobothridial seta shaped like minute lamella. Sensillum clavate, distally spinose. Bothridium cup-like. Large centrodorsal plate bearing centrodorsal setae. Centrodorsal plate slightly convex, plateau-like; lateral and posterior inner borders of plate deepened like broad furrow. Large folds completely framing centrodorsal plate. Ventral furrows typical for selenoribatid juveniles. Legs, tarsus I with short knob-like famulus, no porose areas on femora detectable, genua with broadened scale-like lateral setae, claws with one sharp proximoventral tooth.</p><p>Larva. (N = 3) length: 203 (all showed the same length).</p><p>Prodorsum: All prodorsal setae minute, lamellar (le) and rostral (ro) setae very difficult to observe.</p><p>Gastronotic region (Figure 3a). Eleven pairs of short (ca. 8 µm), spiniform and smooth notogastral setae; c 1–3, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1–2; h 3 absent; h 2 slightly longer than others (ca. 10 µm).</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 1-0-1, epimeral seta 1a conspicuously longer (15 µm) than 3a (ca. 6 µm). Claparède’s organ clp globular.</p><p>Legs. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-2-2-3-16) (1-1-1), leg II (0-2-2-2-13) (1-1-1), leg III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0).</p><p>Protonymph. (N = 4) length: 231–246 μm (mean 242).</p><p>Gastronotic region (Figure 3b). Fifteen pairs of notogastral setae; c 1–3, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1–3 and p 1–3, all short, spiniform, approximately the same length (8–10 µm).</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 1-0-1-1. Seta 4a medially on epimeron IV. One pair of short genital setae. Aggenital setae absent.</p><p>Legs. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-3-2-3-16) (1-1-2), leg II (0-3-2-2-13) (1-1-1), leg III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), leg IV (0-0-0-0-7) (0-0-0).</p><p>Deutonymph. (N = 1) length: 305 μm.</p><p>Gastronotic region. Fifteen pairs of notogastral setae, same positions and shapes as in protonymph, all of approximately the same length (10 µm).</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 1-0-1-1. Two pairs of short genital setae (approx. 4 µm) arranged in a longitudinal row. Two pairs of adanal setae ad 1–2 (6–8 µm) flanking anal valves.</p><p>Legs Figure 3c–f. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-3-2-3-16) (1-2-2), leg II (0-3-2-2-13) (1-1-1), leg III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), leg IV (0-2-1-1-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Tritonymph. (N = 1) length: 381 μm.</p><p>Gastronotic region. No difference to deutonymph.</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 1-0-1-1.</p><p>Three pairs of short genital setae in longitudinal row. Two pairs of adanal setae ad 1–2 and two pairs of minute anal setae an 1–2.</p><p>Legs. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-3-2-3-18) (1-2-2), leg II (0-3-2-3-15) (1-1-1), leg III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), leg IV (0-2-1-2-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Presently, only juveniles of  Indopacifica iohanna,  I. taiyo and  I. tyida are known (Resch et al. 2019; Pfingstl et al. 2021) and the immatures of the new species show an identical habitus, notogastral and ventral setation. Juvenile stages of  I. iohanna lack a proximoventral tooth on their claws and thus can be easily distinguished from immatures of the new species. This proximoventral tooth, however, is present in nymphs of  I. taiyo and  I. tyida, but these show only two setae on tibia I whereas immatures of the new species show already three setae on this segment from the larva. Apart from these characters, there is no way to distinguish the juveniles of  Indopacifica species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/283387DAFFB2FFB89E66FE5CFE2EFBA2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Pfingstl, Tobias;Minor, Maria;Schäffer, Sylvia;Shimano, Satoshi	Pfingstl, Tobias, Minor, Maria, Schäffer, Sylvia, Shimano, Satoshi (2023): Coastal oribatid mites (Acari) from New Zealand: new morphological, ecological, and developmental data. International Journal of Acarology 49 (7 - 8): 422-439, DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2023.2284310, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2023.2284310
283387DAFFB6FFB99D3CFAEDFB30F8E2.text	283387DAFFB6FFB99D3CFAEDFB30F8E2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Fortuynia elamellata Luxton 1967	<div><p>Fortuynia elamellata Luxton, 1967</p><p>Luxton (1967) gave a very good and detailed description of the adult and juvenile stages of this species. Therefore, we only repeat the most important features and add very few morphological details that were not given in the original description.</p><p>Adult</p><p>Diagnosis. Dark brown to almost black mites. Body length ranges 438–488 µm and body width 270–290 µm (females slightly larger than males). Integument finely punctate. Prodorsum triangular in dorsal view, rostrum demarcated by faint transversal ridge passing in front of lamellar setae (Figure 4d). Rostral (ro) and lamellar seta (le) smooth, spiniform, the latter slightly shorter (ca. 20 µm vs. 15 µm). No lamellar ridges (Figure 4a,b,d). Interlamellar (in) and exobothridial seta (ex) vestigial. Sensillum (ss) smooth, medially incurving, with clavate head. Van der Hammen´s organ typical for the genus (Figure 4c); canal ce present, short, reaching bothridium, canal ci absent. Gnathosoma typical for the genus. Notogaster with anterior rectangular light spot with irregular border. Fourteen pairs of long, smooth spiniform notogastral setae (length 15–40 µm), seta da faintly serrated (difficult to observe), c 3 absent (Figure 4a,b). Lyrifissures and opisthonotal gland opening typical for the genus. Pedotectum I small, scale-like; pedotectum II absent. Epimeral formula 3-1-3-2, setae smooth, length ranging 15–45 µm, 1b longest, 3a shortest. Five pairs of genital setae, one pair of aggenital setae. Two pairs of anal and three pairs of thin and smooth adanal setae. Legs monodactylous, long hook-like claws with two dorsal rows of minute serration (difficult to observe) (Figure 4e,f). Porose areas present on all femora and on trochanter III and IV. Trochanter III and IV with distinct dorsal spur. Leg setation and solenidia: I (1-4-2-3-18) (1-2-2), II (1-4-2-3-15) (1-1-1), III (2-3-1-3-15) (1-1-0), IV (1-2-2-3-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Remarks</p><p>The specimens investigated herein match exactly the morphological description of  Fortuynia elamellata specimens in Luxton (1967) and there is no doubt that we are dealing with the same species. The supposed subspecies  F. elamellata shibai was described from Japan and shows differences in the length of notogastral seta da, in the position of the aggenital setae, the development of pedotectum I and the spur on trochanter III (Aoki 1974). A recent study (Pfingstl et al. 2019) concluded that these differences are of interspecific nature and that F. e.  shibai represents a distinct species. We confirm the differences and agree that  F. shibai should not be longer regarded as subspecies. Another suggested subspecies, namely  F. elamellata micromorpha, was described from South African coasts (Marshall and Pugh 2002), and also diverges from the nominate species in the length of seta da, position of aggenital seta and size of pedotectum I, but additionally shows a striking difference in body size (380–404 µm in  F. micromorpha versus 438–488 µm in  F. elamellata). Altogether, this subspecies shows more differences to  F. elamellata than  F. shibai and thus its status as subspecies may also no longer be justified. A recent phylogeny of marine associated mites using morphological and molecular genetic data (Pfingstl et al. 2023) indicated a close relation of the above-mentioned taxa but did not render them as direct sister species or groups of a single clade. Moreover, the three  “ elamellata ” species differ in the length of the 28S gene fragment and show different substitutions in at least one base pair, which strongly supports the distinctness of each species.</p><p>Ecology</p><p>Fortuynia elamellata specimens were all collected from intertidal rock habitats (Luxton 1967, present study) which indicates a preference for this type of environment. Furthermore, their claws are strongly curved and high (from dorsal to ventral edge), which indicates an adaptation to rocky tidal coastal environments (Pfingstl et al. 2020).</p><p>Distribution.  Fortuynia elamellata has been reported from four different locations in New Zealand: (I) from the Three Kings Islands north of Auckland, (II) from the Bay of Islands in the northern part of Auckland region, (III) from the Takatu Peninsula in North Auckland (Luxton 1967, 1990), and (IV) from Waiheke Island close to the eastern shore of Auckland City (present study). All these occurrences are restricted to the northern parts of the North Island where warmer seawater temperatures prevail. Fortuyniid mites are known to be adapted to warmer climates (e.g. Pfingstl et al. 2021); therefore, it makes sense that  F. elamellata may be restricted to the warm temperate regions of New Zealand. Although supposed subspecies of  F. elamellata were found on shores of South Africa and Japan (Aoki 1974; Marshall and Pugh 2002; Pfingstl et al. 2021), the nominate species has not been found yet outside of New Zealand and thus may represent a strictly endemic species.</p><p>Juvenile stages. Apheredermous, dark brown in colour (similar to adults). Integument plicate and soft except more sclerotized centrodorsal plate. Pattern of plication and system of tracheal pores in folds typical for the genus. Prodorsum triangular, hysterosoma oval in dorsal view. Bothridium small cup, sensillum with short stalk and smooth clavate head. Interlamellar (in) and exobothridial (ex) seta already vestigial. In larva, all notogastral setae faintly serrated, in following stages only setae c 1, c 2 and da with faint serration. Bases of notogastral setae surrounded by small pores.</p><p>Larva (N = 2). Length 225–246 µm (mean 236 µm).</p><p>428 T. PFINGSTL ET AL.</p><p>Eleven pairs of notogastral setae. Epimeral setation 2-1-2. Leg setation and solenidia: I (0-2-2-3-16) (1-1-1), II (0-2-2-2-13) (1-1-1), III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0).</p><p>Protonymph (N = 2) (Figure 5a,b). Length 299–310 µm (mean 305 µm).</p><p>Fifteen pairs of notogastral setae. Epimeral setation 3-1-2-1. One pair of genital setae. Leg setation and solenidia: I (0-2-2-3-16) (1-1-2), II (0-2-2-2-13) (1-1-1), III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), IV (0-0-0-0-7) (0-0-0).</p><p>Deutonymph (N = 4). Length 350–369 µm (mean 363 µm).</p><p>Fifteen pairs of notogastral setae. Epimeral setation 3-1-2-2. Two pairs of genital (g), one pair of aggenital and three pairs of adanal setae (ad 1–3). Leg setation and solenidia (Figure 6): I (0-3-2-3-16) (1-2-2), II (0-3-2-2-13) (1-1-1), III (1-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), IV (0-2-2-1-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Tritonymph (N = 8) (Figure 5c). Length 436–481 µm (mean 460 µm).</p><p>Fifteen pairs of notogastral setae. Epimeral setation 3-1-3-2. Four pairs of genital, one pair of aggenital, three pairs of adanal, and two pairs of anal setae (an 1–2). Leg setation and solenidia: I (0-4-2-3-18) (1-2-2), II (0-4-2-2-15) (1-1-1), III (1-3-1-2-15) (1-1-0), IV (1-2-2-2-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Our specimens of  F. elamellata juveniles conform with the characteristics given by Luxton (1967). When comparing the juveniles of  F. elamellata to immatures of the former supposed subspecies  F. shibai (Pfingstl et al. 2021), they look very similar at first glance. The habitus, developmental setal formulas and the size range of each stage are identical. But the sizes and shape of nearly all notogastral setae are significantly different. In juveniles of  F. shibai most notogastral setae (c 1–3, da, dm, la, lm, h 2) are spinose and long, whereas in  F. elamellata immatures all notogastral setae are relatively short (only a third of the length of the setae in  F. shibai) and only the setae c 1–2, da, dm are spinose; the rest are setiform. Juveniles of  F. elamellata differ in the same way from immatures of the supposed subspecies F. e.  micromorpha (Hugo-Coetzee et al. 2022) but the latter are ca. 50 µm smaller in each stage and thus easily distinguishable.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/283387DAFFB6FFB99D3CFAEDFB30F8E2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Pfingstl, Tobias;Minor, Maria;Schäffer, Sylvia;Shimano, Satoshi	Pfingstl, Tobias, Minor, Maria, Schäffer, Sylvia, Shimano, Satoshi (2023): Coastal oribatid mites (Acari) from New Zealand: new morphological, ecological, and developmental data. International Journal of Acarology 49 (7 - 8): 422-439, DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2023.2284310, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2023.2284310
283387DAFFB7FFAE9E66F806FBC8F83A.text	283387DAFFB7FFAE9E66F806FBC8F83A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Sellnickia caudata (Michael 1809)	<div><p>Sellnickia caudata (Michael, 1809) (Notaspis)</p><p>Grandjean (1958) provided a very detailed and comprehensive re-description of the adults of this species. Herein, we only repeat and complement the most important features and provide the first SEM images of this species as well as the first description of juveniles.</p><p>Adult</p><p>Diagnosis. Dark brown, large sized (656–734 µm) oribatid mites. Sexually dimorphic rostral lobe. Sensillum short globular. Prodorsal setae long, robust and ciliate. Lamellar ridge present. Dorsosejugal scissure incomplete. Octotaxic system present, large porose areas. Ten pairs of almost completely reduced notogastral setae. Large pygidial protuberance present. Legs heterotridactylous, with tarsal, tibial and femoral porose areas and remarkably pectinate unguinal tarsal setae.</p><p>Characters of the adult</p><p>Measurements. Females (N = 4), length: 656–734 µm (mean 684 µm), width: 425–456 µm (mean 442 µm); males (N = 2), length: 656–719 µm (mean 688 µm), width: 419–431 µm (mean 425 µm).</p><p>Integument. Colour dark brown. Cuticle smooth, except for gastronotic area showing faint foveate pattern (Figure 7a,e). Cerotegument absent, except for thin finely granular layer covering lateral area between bothridium and leg acetabula (Figure 7b,c).</p><p>Prodorsum (Figures 7c and 8a,c). Rounded in dorsal view; striking sexual dimorphism present, females with median rectangular rostral lobe, not seen in dorsal view, males also with median rectangular rostral lobe but lateral parts of this structure are strongly notched resulting in a frontal orientation of the lobe, which is then very well visible in dorsal view (Figure 8c). Rostral seta (ro) long (ca. 80 µm), setiform and slightly ciliate, lamellar (le) and interlamellar seta (in) very long (150–165 µm), robust setiform and strongly ciliate. Exobothridial seta (ex) shorter (ca. 75 µm) but also robust and strongly ciliate. Prominent lamellar ridge running from bothridium to the base of lamellar seta, nearly straight in dorsal view, curved in lateral view (Figure 7c). Tutorium (tu) developed as cuticular enfolding with sharp edge reaching from anterior of bothridium to insertion of rostral seta (Figure 7c). Sensillum short with slender stalk and large globular head covered by minute barbs.</p><p>Notogastral region. Circular in dorsal view, with conspicuous large caudal protuberance (ca. 50 µm) at the posterior end (Figures 7a and 8). Protuberance with median porose area at its terminal part; no difference in this structure between male and female. Dorsosejugal scissure medially interrupted. Two pairs of small inconspicuous ridges in humeral area. Ten pairs of minute notogastral setae (c 2, la, lm, lp, h 1–3, p 1–3), seta p 1 located on caudal protuberance (Figures 7d and 8a,c), seta p 2–3 only visible in lateral view. Octotaxic system consisting of large elliptical or round porose areas. Porose area Aa largest near vestige la, A1, A2 and A3 slightly smaller, all located on posterior half of notogaster (Figures 7e,f and 8a,c). Orifice of opisthonotal gland gla circular and laterad of seta lp.</p><p>Lateral aspect. Pedotectum I PtI large shield-like, pedotectum II PtII smaller, but still well-developed (Figure 7c). Discidium absent.</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 3-1-3-3, all setae smooth and spiniform (19–30 µm). Six pairs of genital setae, genital orifice slightly larger in females. One pair of aggenital setae (ag). Two pairs of anal setae (an 1–2) and three pairs of adanal setae (ad 1–3), ad 1 and ad 2 located posterior of anal valves. Lyrifissure iad small in anterior paranal position.</p><p>Gnathosoma. Chelicera chelate with strong interlocking teeth on digits (Figure 9a). Seta cha and chb long spiniform and unilaterally barbed. Trägårdh’s organ Tg a blunt thin triangular lamellar blade in paraxial position. Palp setal formula 0-2-1-3-8 (+ solenidion ω), tarsal eupathidium acm and solenidium ω associated forming a “corne double” (Figure 9b). Mentum diarthric, seta h spiniform smooth (ca. 30 µm). Rutellum with three distal teeth, the most lateral largest and blunt, two inner teeth slightly smaller but acute, all almost fully covered by thin lamella in ventral view (Figure 9c). Setae a and m spiniform and unilaterally barbed (15–20 µm).</p><p>Legs (Figure 10). Heterotridactylous, median claw strongest, lateral claws slightly weaker and with distal ventral indentation. All claws borne on an elongated slender pretarsal stalk, whereas stalk of tarsus I is slightly shorter than that of other legs. Cerotegument finely granular. Large porose areas on paraxial aspect of all femora and elongated porose areas on ventral side of each tarsus and tibia. A small dorsal porose area on tarsus I and II surrounding the base of solenidia. Tibia and tarsi elongated whereas in posterior legs they are relatively longer. Solenidia φ 1–2 of tibia I borne on small apophysis. Setae (u) on tarsus I remarkably pectinate ventrally, the same applies to setae (p) and (u) on all other tarsi (Figure 7g,h). Leg setation and solenidia: I (1-5-2-4-18) (1-2-2), II (1-5-2-4-15) (1-1-1), III (2-3-1-3-15) (1-1-0); IV (1-2-2-3-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Grandjean (1958) provided the most detailed description for  Sellnickia caudata and although his specimens originated from Queensland, Australia, the specimens from New Zealand investigated herein exactly match their morphology. We could not find any deviating characters. The second known species of this genus,  Sellnickia heveae (Oudemans 1927), was synonymized with  S. caudata by Subías (2022) based on their almost identical appearance. However, Oudemans (1927) noted that his species shows a thick, lanceolate and unilaterally ciliate palptibial seta unlike that of  S. caudata which is typically setiform. This difference was confirmed by Grandjean (1958) and thus the supposed synonymy should be discarded (Behan-Pelletier 2015).  Sellnickia heveae also possesses the characteristic pygidial protuberance and Oudemans (1927) hypothesized that it consists of a sticky material that allows the mites to glue themselves to the leaves when strong winds blow. Grandjean (1958) clearly contradicts that, stating that the pygidial tubercle rather secretes a typical cerotegument layer instead of a sticky substance. Observations in the field are clearly needed to answer if the protuberance is involved in attachment or in some kind of pheromonal communication, or in something else.</p><p>The sexual dimorphism of rostral lobes found in  Sellnickia caudata is unusual and the function is yet unknown. Norton and Alberti (1997) stated that the male lobe has got the right size and shape to fit over the pygidial tubercle of the female, and thus males could possibly “nuzzle” this protuberance. In that case, the question remains why males show the exact same pygidial tubercle with a probable secretory function. Sexually dimorphic rostral structures are known to occur in several other oribatid taxa, as for example in the genus  Symbioribates where rostral setae are modified or in  Nasozetes where there is a spatulate protuberance in the males (e.g. Behan-Pelletier 2015). These dimorphic structures in oripodoid and other mites may all be somehow involved in some kind of mating behaviour (e.g. Bayartogtokh et al. 2017, 2022).</p><p>The higher-level taxonomy of  Sellnickia species shows some inconsistencies and needs clarification. The family  Sellnickiidae, consisting of  S. caudata and  S. hevea, is accepted by Norton and Behan-Pelletier (2009) and Schatz et al. (2011), but Subías (2022) includes these two species in the family  Oribatulidae . Grandjean (1958) was the first to discuss the family placement of  Sellnickia and he argued that the genus shares many characters with  Oribatulidae, as for example the elongated pretarsi, the notched lateral claws, or the tarsal porose area which is also present in  Phauloppia and  Lucoppia . At the same time, he admitted that there are certain characters in  Sellnickia that are not present in  Oribatulidae, e.g. the lack of centrodorsal setae, a sclerotized spermatopositor and a specifically shaped preanal organ, which could justify the erection of a separate family. However, Grandjean (1958) refrained from doing the latter and stated that a final decision should only be made when the juvenile morphology of  Sellnickia is known in detail. Balogh and Balogh (1984) established the subfamily  Sellnickiinae in  Oribatulidae and listed the reduction of notogastral setae, the absence of the dorsosejugal suture, 5 to 6 pairs of genital setae and the adanal position of lyrifissure iad as diagnostic characters for this group. They also included the monotypic genus  Grandjeania into this subfamily. Later, Norton and Behan-Pelletier (2009) were the first to mention the family name “  Sellnickiidae ” and they listed femur II with 5 setae, the caudal protuberance bearing porose area and seta p 1, a complete circumpedal carina posterior to acetabulum IV and the possession of one solenidion on tarsus II as diagnostic traits for the family. The legs of  Grandjeania are not known in detail but its notogaster exhibits two caudal protuberances that do not bear seta p 1 and the circumpedal carina is absent, at least according to the figures (Balogh 1963, p. 42); as a consequence, it was excluded from  Sellnickiidae . Schatz et al. (2011) outlined the higher-lever classification of  Oribatida and listed the  Sellnickiidae as monogeneric family with two species,  S. caudata and  S. heveae and they mentioned Balogh and Balogh 1984 as family authors. Shortly after, Behan-Pelletier (2015) published a review on sexual dimorphism in oribatid mites which included details of  Sellnickia caudata, but it was listed as a member of the family  Oribatulidae in all associated tables. The recent world catalogue of oribatid mites (Subías 2022) conforms to that and includes  Sellnickia in  Oribatulidae, and accordingly the placement of this group of mites remains unclear. Based on the present data on adult and juvenile morphology (which follows in the next section), we think that  Sellnickia should be placed in the separate family  Sellnickiidae and not in  Oribatulidae, although they are closely related to the latter group. The diagnostic familial characters given by Norton and Behan-Pelletier (2009) should be accepted whereas the presence of tarsal pulvilli in the immatures should be added to the diagnosis. The  Sellnickiidae should only include the two  Sellnickia species for now, but when more morphological details on  Grandjeania and their juvenile morphology are reported in the future, the family might be adjusted in the sense of Balogh and Balogh (1984).</p><p>Ecology</p><p>Members of the genus  Sellnickia have been exclusively found on leaves of trees and thus they are apparently arboreal. Specimens of  S. heveae were collected from Hevea sp. tree leaves (Oudemans 1927), while individuals of  S. caudata were collected from leaves of lemon trees (Grandjean 1958), from green leaves of an undetermined plant (Hammer 1966) and from twigs and leaves of green button mangrove  C. erectus (present study). The occurrence on different species of plants indicates that the mites are not adapted to a specific type of plant. In the present study, we found high numbers of  S. caudata specimens on nearly every investigated leaf, and they were observed to feed on the plant tissue and to form moulting aggregations on the underside of the leaves. Whether such strong infestations can cause harm to the plant is yet unknown, at least such cases have not been reported yet.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>Sellnickia caudata was originally described from Auckland, New Zealand (Michael 1908), but details about the exact collection site were not provided in the respective publication. This species was also collected in the Rotoehu State Forest in the Bay of Plenty (Hammer 1966) and now it was found on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Consequently,  S. caudata may show a common distribution on the landmasses of north-eastern North Island. Outside New Zealand, there is a single report from Maryborough in Queensland (Grandjean 1958) pointing to a wider distribution in Australia as well. The second species,  S. heveae was reported from Medan in Sumatra (Oudemans 1927). Presently, all members of the genus are only known from the Australasian region.</p><p>434 T. PFINGSTL ET AL.</p><p>Description of juveniles</p><p>Common features of juvenile stages. Apheredermous. Bideficient; all opisthonotal setae associated with small porose excentrosclerites Figure 11a–c. Colour of prodorsum light brown, gastronotic region pale yellow. Integument soft, slightly plicate, except for stronger sclerotized prodorsum. Posterior edge of the prodorsum with a pair of lighter spots. All prodorsal setae long and barbed (Figure 11a). Bothridium small, cup-like. Sensillum short globose, surface of distal globe rough, covered with minute spines. A pair of small light spots adjacent to dorsosejugal scissure. Gastronotum oval in dorsal view, slightly convex in lateral view. Legs monodactylous with large lobe-like subunguinal pulvillus (Figure 11d). Porose areas present on femora, tibiae, and tarsi (difficult to observe). Seta d absent from genua and tibiae although respective solenidion is present.</p><p>Larva. (N = 1): length 262 µm.</p><p>Prodorsum (Figure 12a). Interlamellar (in) and lamellar seta (le) long, robust, and ciliate (ca. 50 µm), the former slightly thicker. Exobothridial seta (ex) long, spiniform, weakly ciliate (ca. 30 µm). Rostral seta (ro) long, thin, weakly ciliate (ca. 34 µm).</p><p>Gastronotic region (Figure 12a). Ten pairs of notogastral setae, c 1-2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1–2. Setae c 1–2, da, dm, la and lm long (length 15–25 µm), robust and ciliate; other setae short (8–11 µm), spiniform and smooth. At the base of each seta there is a small porose sclerite, slightly invaginated, difficult to observe. Orifice of opisthonotal gland (gla) circular, ring-like; gland small elliptical sac.</p><p>Podosoma and venter (Figure 12b). Epimeral setation 2-1-2, all setae short (approx. 8 µm) and spiniform. Claparède’s organ (clp) globular. Aggenital, genital, adanal and anal setae not developed. Cupule of lyrifissure ih anterior of anal opening.</p><p>Legs. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-2-2-2-16) (1-1-1), leg II (0-2-2-2-13) (1-1-1), leg III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0).</p><p>Protonymph. (N = 1): length 286 µm.</p><p>Prodorsum. Interlamellar (in) and lamellar seta (le) long, robust, and ciliate (52–56 µm), the former slightly thicker. Exobothridial seta (ex) long, spiniform, weakly ciliate (ca. 40 µm). Rostral seta (ro) long, thin, weakly ciliate (ca. 47 µm).</p><p>Gastronotic region. Fourteen pairs of notogastral setae; c 1-2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1–3, p 1–3. All short (ca. 5 µm), spiniform, smooth with small porose sclerites (excentrosclerite) at base. More than 40 additional small, slightly invaginated porose sclerites, distributed over gastronotic region.</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 3-1-2-1, all setae spiniform and approx. same length (8 µm). Setae 1c and 4b added in this stage. One pair of short (ca. 5 µm) genital setae. Adanal and anal setae not developed. Cupule of lyrifissure ip anterior of anal opening.</p><p>Legs. Porose areas paraxially on femora I-III and ventrodistally on tarsi and tibiae I-III; difficult to observe. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-2-2-3-16) (1-1-2), leg II (0-2-2-2-13) (1-1-1), leg III (0-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), leg IV (0-0-0-0-7) (0-0-0).</p><p>Deutonymph. (N = 3): length 331–388 µm (mean 365 µm).</p><p>Prodorsum (Figure 13a). Interlamellar (in) seta very long, robust and ciliate (ca. 90 µm), lamellar seta (le) shorter and thinner (ca. 63 µm). Exobothridial seta (ex) long, spiniform, weakly ciliate (ca. 40 µm). Rostral seta (ro) long, thin, weakly ciliate (ca. 53 µm).</p><p>Gastronotic region (Figure 13a). Fourteen pairs of notogastral setae, same positions, shapes and lengths in protonymph. Microsclerites and porose areas same as in protonymph.</p><p>Podosoma and venter (Figure 13b). Epimeral setation 3-1-2-2, seta 4a added in this stage (ca. 9 µm). Two pairs of short (ca. 6 µm) genital setae g 1–2. Three pairs of adanal setae (ca. 11 µm) flanking anal orifice. Cupule of lyrifissure iad anterior of anal opening.</p><p>Legs (Figure 14). Porous areas same as in protonymph, but in this stage also on leg IV. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-3-2-3-16) (1-2-2), leg II (0-3-2-2-13) (1-1-1), leg III (1-2-1-1-13) (1-1-0), leg IV (0-2-1-1-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Tritonymph. (N = 1): length 494 µm.</p><p>Prodorsum (Figure 13c). Interlamellar (in) seta very long, robust and ciliate (139 µm), lamellar seta (le) shorter and thinner (120 µm). Exobothridial seta (ex) long, spiniform, weakly ciliate (62 µm). Rostral seta (ro) long, thin, weakly ciliate (65 µm).</p><p>Gastronotic region (Figure 13c). Fourteen pairs of notogastral setae, no difference to deutonymph (microsclerites included). Additional microsclerites same, positions and shapes as in deutonymph.</p><p>Podosoma and venter. Epimeral setation 3-1-2-3, seta 4c added in this stage, close to trochanter IV, length of all epimeral seta ca. 9 µm. Four pairs of genital setae g 1–4 (6 µm). Three pairs of adanal setae, same positions, shapes, and sizes as in deutonymph. Two pairs of short anal setae (6–8 µm), fully developed in this stage.</p><p>INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACAROLOGY 437</p><p>Legs. Porose areas same as in deutonymph. Setation and solenidia: leg I (0-3-2-3-18) (1-2-2), leg II (0-3-2-3-15) (1-1-1), leg III (1-2-1-1-15) (1-1-0), leg IV (1-2-2-1-12) (0-1-0).</p><p>Conspicuous changes during ontogeny. The larva shows small porose excentrosclerites associated only with the notogastral setae. From the protonymph, numerous additional small, slightly invaginated porose sclerites appear on the gastronotum and these are not associated with other structures. The anterior notogastral setae c 1–2, da, dm, la and lm are remarkably long, robust and ciliate in the larva, but in the protonymph they become small spiniform and smooth, and they keep this appearance throughout the subsequent ontogenetic development.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Oudemans (1927) also found a tritonymph but gave very limited information on it in his work about  S. heveae . He mainly mentions the ambulacrum which consists of a pretarsus equipped with a single claw and a conspicuous pulvillus (“carunkel”). Immatures of  S. caudata show the exact same feature on their legs. Tarsal pulvilli, only present in the juvenile stages, can also be found in  Ametroproctus,  Cymbaeremaeus (Behan-Pelletier 1987, 1988),  Dendroeremaeus (Behan-Pelletier et al. 2005) and  Megeremaeus (Behan-Pelletier 1990) . Apart from the latter, all taxa are exclusively arboreal species; therefore, this morphological feature is clearly an adaption to this lifestyle. Most of these groups, including  Sellnickia, are not related to each other, consequently juvenile adhesive pulvilli have evolved independently in these lineages (e.g. Pfingstl 2023).</p><p>Herein, we report the presence of opisthonotal excentrosclerites for the first time in the juveniles of  Sellnickia, a feature that is characteristic for immatures of Oripodoidea (e.g. Norton and Behan-Pelletier 2009).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/283387DAFFB7FFAE9E66F806FBC8F83A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Pfingstl, Tobias;Minor, Maria;Schäffer, Sylvia;Shimano, Satoshi	Pfingstl, Tobias, Minor, Maria, Schäffer, Sylvia, Shimano, Satoshi (2023): Coastal oribatid mites (Acari) from New Zealand: new morphological, ecological, and developmental data. International Journal of Acarology 49 (7 - 8): 422-439, DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2023.2284310, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2023.2284310
