Neumania maharashtris Cook, 1967

Pešić, Vladimir, Smit, Harry, Asadi, Mahdieh & Etemadi, Isa, 2011, New records of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from southern Iran, with description of one new genus and three new species, Zootaxa 2783, pp. 21-34 : 25-27

Neumania maharashtris Cook, 1967

( Fig. 3 )

Material examined. Iran, Kerman Province, Roodan stream near Manoojan city, 30° 38' 5.7" N, 52° 49' 5.9" E, 341 m a.s.l., 1/0/0 (mounted).

Remarks. Due to the pronounced concavity near the distal end of the ventral side of IV-L-5 and proportionally much longer and less curved IV-L-6, the specimen from Iran agrees well with Neumania maharashtris , a species so far only known from India (Maharashtra State, Cook 1967). In view of the large geographical distance, the morphological similarity is remarkable. The only differences are found in the presence of pinnate setae on IV-L- 5 in the specimen from Iran vs. smooth setae in the Cook’s drawings of the specimen from India. Male. Idiosoma ventrally L 438, W 366; dorsally soft, with two pairs of small muscle attachments platelets; glandularia of the dorsum small except for a posterior pair which are tubercle-like. Coxal plates reticulated; L between anterior end of Cx-I and posterior end of Cx-IV 356. Apodemes of Cx-I long, reaching onto Cx-IV. Genital field fused with Cx-IV, with 11 acetabula on each side; genital field W 165, gonopore L 46; a pair of large tubercle-like glandularia flanking the genital field ( Fig. 3A ); the excretory pore incorporated into a broad area of sclerotization which is fused with the genital field. Palp: total L 237, dL: P-1, 20; P-2, 77; P-3, 43; P-4, 69; P-5, 28; P-2/P-4 ratio 1.12; P-4 with a short anteroventral tubercle ( Fig. 3C ). L of I-L-2-6: 92, 120, 152, 188, 183; L of IV-L-2-6: 102, 138, 176, 192, 167; IV- Leg-5 and – 6 each slightly bowed ( Fig. 3B ). First ( Fig. 3D ) and second leg with long fluted or grooved setae. Swimming setae numbers: II-L-4 one, III-L-4 three to fourth, III-L-5 three, IV-L-3 two, IV-L-4 six and IV-L-5 three.

Distribution. India. New for Iran.

Neumania indentata Smit & Peši ć, 2010 ( Figs. 4–5 )

Material. Iran, Kerman Province, Roodan stream near Manoojan city, 30° 38' 5.7" N, 52° 49' 5.9" E, 341 m a.s.l. 2/ 0/0 (mounted).

Remarks. This species was previously known only from Oman. Due to the shape and chaetotaxy of the male fourth leg (ventral margin of IV-Leg-5 proximally with a triangular projection, distal 2/3 concave, with five stout, broad setae, one of these very broad, with denticulated tip; ventral margin of IV-Leg-6 proximally undulating, in the centre indented, see Fig. 5A–B ), Neumania indentata can be distinguished from other members of the genus ( Smit & Pešiċ 2010). In addition to the measurements, we give some figures of the male specimen from the Kerman province, including the first illustration of the ejaculatory complex ( Fig. 4C ). Male (n = 2). Idiosoma ventrally L 408–453, W 316–319; gonopore L 46–48; genital field with 8–10 acetabula on each side. Palp: total L 243, dL: P-1, 23; P-2, 74–80; P-3, 37; P-4, 69–74; P-5, 29; L P-2/P-4 ratio 1.02–1.07; P-4; chelicera total L 94 capitulum ventral L (with apodemes) 102. L of I-L-2-6: 100, 103, 142, 155, 165. L of IV-L-2-6: 85, 102, 117, 150, 115. Swimming setae numbers: II-L-4 one, III-L-3 one, III-L-4 five, III-L-5 three, IV-L-3 two, IV-L-4 three and IV-L-5 three.

Distribution. Oman. New for Iran.

Figures

FIGURE 3 A – D. Neumania maharashtris Cook, 1967, male: A = idiosoma, ventral view; B = IV-L- 5 - 6; C = palp; D = I-L. Scale bars = 100 μm.

FIGURE 4 A – D. Neumania indentata Smit & Pešić 2010, male: A = idiosoma, ventral view; B = palp; C = ejaculatory complex; D = I-L- 2 - 5. Scale bars = 100 μm.

FIGURE 5 A – B. Neumania indentata Smit & Pešić 2010, male: A = IV-L- 4 - 6; B = IV-L- 5 - 6. Scale bar = 100 μm.