Austrocarabodes luciensis, Hugo, Elizabeth A., 2008

Hugo, Elizabeth A., 2008, Three new species of Austrocarabodes (Oribatida: Carabodidae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 1844, pp. 25-36 : 32-34

Austrocarabodes luciensis sp. nov.

Figs 6–7

Specific diagnosis. Large, very dark brown species; sensillus recurving, surface lightly barbed; surface of prodorsum with lines and ridges; distinct pattern on notogaster, resembling an asterisk (*); notogastral setae phylliform, with strong midrib, smooth; setae 4a, 4b, 4c long, phylliform, barbed, 4b, 4c very long.

Dimensions. Length: Females (n = 2) 975 µm (range 950–1000), males (n = 12) 870 µm (range 800–920). Width: Females 590 µm (range 580–600), males 485 µm (range 440–530). Holotype (male): Length 860 µm, width 470 µm.

Prodorsum ( Fig. 6 A). Surface with a network of lines and ridges, surface of lamellae smooth; rostrum rounded, ro curving slightly medially, inserted on tubercles originating on translamella, with midrib; le and ro of similar length, le with strong midrib, apex pointed, strongly serrated; in with strong midrib, smooth, directed outwards, longest of prodorsal setae, shorter than mutual distance; very strong transverse ridge in interlamellar region; ss with slender peduncle, head strongly recurving back to peduncle, surface lightly barbed.

Notogaster ( Figs 6 A, 6B). Surface with light, round, similar sized spots; numerous fine lines radiate from the center of the spot, resembling an asterisk (*) ( Fig. 6 B); ornamentation not the same as on prodorsum; anterior margin arched; notogastral setae phylliform, tips sharply pointed with strong midrib, smooth; setae c1 and da not reaching alveoli of da and dm, respectively, distance c1-c1 slightly shorter than c1-c2, lm, dm not at the same level; la, lm, lp more or less in straight line, da, dm, dp in straight line.

Coxisternal region ( Fig. 6 C). Epimeral surface very finely punctate; setae 1a, 1c, 2a, 3a very short; setae 1b, 3b, 3c smooth, long, slender; setae 4a, 4b, 4c long, phylliform, barbed, 4b, 4c very long.

Anogenital region ( Fig. 6 C). Surface of ventral plate, genital and anal plates finely punctate; genital setae of medium length, smooth; aggenital seta long, smooth, slender; anal setae short, smooth; adanal setae phylliform, smooth; genital plate framed by a very strong chitinous ridge.

Legs ( Fig. 7 ). Setation of legs I–IV (solenidia in parentheses) (including famulus): trochanters 1-1-2-1, femora 4-4-3-2, genua 3(1)-3(1)-1(1)-2, tibiae 4(2)-3(1)-2(1)-2(1), tarsi 16(2)-15(2)-15-11 (see Table 1 for setation detail); setae (u) bladelike; seta v’ on genu of legs I and II strongly barbed; seta d on genu of legs I–III phylliform and coarsely serrated; seta l” on femur of legs I–III bladelike, barbed.

Material. The holotype (3752.9.1) and paratypes are deposited in the National Museum, Bloemfontein. The holotype and paratypes were sampled in the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome ( Rutherford et al. 2006), at St Lucia in coastal forest soil (28º26’S, 32º14’E).

Collection data. Grassland biome: Maritzbos (25º06’S, 30º41’E, soil of indigenous forest), Sabie (25º06’S, 30º53’E, soil of indigenous forest). Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome: Mapelane (28º26’S, 32º20’E, soil of dune forest). For distribution see map ( Fig. 8 ).

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality - St Lucia in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Remarks. A. luciensis differs from other Austrocarabodes species in the unique ornamentation on the notogaster and the strong ventral ridge framing the genital plates. The ornamentation on the notogaster resembles the ornamentation of Carabodes (Klapperiches) ornatissimus Hammer, 1966 ( New Zealand).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Austrocarabodes luciensis sp. nov. A—Dorsal view with magnifications of lamellar seta (le) and sensillus (ss). B—detail of notogastral seta (da) and ornamentation on notogaster. C—Ventral view. Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURE 7. Austrocarabodes luciensis sp. nov. Leg I, left, paraxial view. Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURE 8. Map of South Africa showing the distribution of A. hendriksi (filled squares), A. vernoncrookensis (filled circles) and A. luciensis (filled triangles).