Poropodalius acutus Karg, 2000

Castilho, Raphael C., De, Gilberto J. & Halliday, Bruce, 2012, Revision of the genera Interrhodeus, Pennarhodeus and Poropodalius (Acari: Rhodacaridae), Zootaxa 3335, pp. 1-28 : 15-16

Poropodalius acutus Karg, 2000

Poropodalius acutus Karg, 2000a: 253 .

Poropodalius acutus .— Karg & Schorlemmer, 2009: 67.

Specimens examined. Holotype female: 6970 T, Kuba (= Cuba), 1977, Bodenprobe Nr. (soil sample number) 1, ZMB Kat. Nr. 45925. Paratype male: 6971, Kuba (= Cuba), 1977, Streudecke (litter sample), ZMB Kat. Nr. 45926. (in MNHB).

Diagnosis (adult female). Epistome with smooth antero-lateral projections of about uniform width; dorsal idiosomal setae smooth; podonotal shield lightly imbricate, with four crescent-shaped scleronoduli between setae j5 and j6; opisthonotal and sternal shields lightly imbricate; unsclerotised integument between sternal and ventrianal shields without accessory platelet; ventrianal shield with five pairs of setae (Jv2, Jv3, Jv5, Zv2 and Zv3) in addition to circum-anal setae; peritrematal shield narrow, not extending beyond peritreme; pretarsi I–IV similar in shape and length, an elongate ambulacral stalk, a pair of strong claws and three rounded pulvillar lobes.

Adult female ( Fig. 8 A–D) (holotype). Dorsal and ventral idiosomal, hypostomal, subcapitular and leg setae smooth.

Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 30 long; movable digit 31 long; teeth and pilus dentilis not visible because of position of chelicera. Arthrodial process of chelicera with a short coronet-like fringe. Epistome with a smooth antero-medial projection of about uniform width, with four apical denticles, flanked on each side by shorter, smooth projection with two to four apical denticles ( Fig. 8 A); margin of epistome smooth between antero-medial and antero-lateral projections and serrate laterad to lateral projections. Deutosternal denticles in seven rows, each with eight to 12 denticles; fifth row anteriorly convex, other rows straight and transverse ( Fig. 8 B). Seta h3 posterior to h1 and slightly postero-mediad to h2. Measurements of setae: h 1 13, h 2 not seen (broken), h 3 not seen (broken), sc 10.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 8 C). Podonotal shield lightly imbricate, except for a punctate band along posterior margin; 137 long and 128 wide at widest point; with 21 pairs of setae (seta r1 absent); with four crescent-shaped scleronoduli between setae j5 and j6 and five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised integument laterad to podonotal shield with two pairs of setae (r3 and r4). Opisthonotal shield lightly imbricate, except for a punctate band along anterior margin; 132 long and 131 wide at widest point; with 15 pairs of setae and five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised integument laterad to opisthonotal shield with five pairs of setae (R1-R5). Measurements of setae: j1 11, j2 10, j3 9, j4 8, j5 8, j6 not seen (broken), z1 9, z2 7, z3 9, z4 8, z5 not seen (broken), z6 8, s1 6, s2 5, s3 8, s4 8, s5 9, s6 8, r2 7, r3 13, r4 7, r5 8, r6 10, J1 8, J2 8, J3 8, J4 10, J5 12, Z1 9, Z2 9, Z3 10, Z4 13, Z5 19, S1 9, S2 8, S3 10, S4 14, S5 18, R1 6, R2 not seen (broken), R3 5, R4 5, R5 5.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 8 D). Tritosternum not seen (broken). Sternal shield lightly imbricate and with indistinct anterior margin; region anterior to the first pair of lyrifissures (iv 1) lightly sclerotised and punctate; posterior margin straight; approximately 85 long, including the lightly sclerotised and punctate region, 79 wide at widest point; with four pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures. Genital shield lightly reticulate, except for a punctate band along straight posterior margin; longer than wide; extending posteriorly behind coxae IV; distance between st 5- st 5 42. Unsclerotised integument between genital and ventrianal shields with setae Jv1 and Zv1. Metapodal plates not distinguishable. Ventrianal shield reticulate; 88 long and 101 wide at widest point, not fused to dorsal shield; with five pairs of setae (Jv2, Jv3, Jv5, Zv2 and Zv3) in addition to circum-anal setae and four pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Peritreme extending anteriorly to mid-level of coxa II. Peritrematal shield narrow, not extending beyond peritreme. Measurements of setae: st1 14, st2 not seen (broken), st3 not seen (broken), st4 not seen (broken), st5 not seen (broken), Jv1 10, Jv2 not seen (broken), Jv3 not seen (broken), Jv5 17, Zv1 8, Zv2 not seen (broken), Zv3 11, para-anal 14, post-anal not seen (broken).

Legs. Lengths: I: 248; II: 177; III: 153; IV not suitable for measurement. Pretarsi I–IV similar in shape and length, an elongate ambulacral stalk, a pair of strong claws and three rounded pulvillar lobes.

Remarks. This species was described on the basis of the adult female holotype and an adult male paratype. The following characteristics appear in the original description and illustrations of the species ( Karg, 2000a), but do not agree with our observations of the female holotype (the paratype male was not re-examined in this study): unsclerotised integument laterad to opisthonotal shield with two pairs of setae; genital shield smooth; a pair of rounded metapodal plates, containing a circular structure; lyrifissures present only on podonotal shield (a pair) and sternal shield (two pairs). No information was provided about the chelicera, hypostome, tritosternum and leg setal counts. The only measurements provided for female in the original description referred to the length of the idiosoma (260), width of idiosoma (140), range of dorsal idiosomal setae (10–16), length of ventral idiosomal setae (10), length of legs I (250), II (170), III (150) and IV (220).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Poropodalius acutus Karg. Female. A. Epistome; B. Dorsal idiosoma; C. Hypostome; D. Ventral idiosoma. Lyrifissures enlarged for improved visibility.