Zelandaturus, Smit, Harry, 2015

Smit, Harry, 2015, A new notoaturine genus from New Zealand (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Aturidae: Notoaturinae), Zootaxa 4033 (3), pp. 442-444 : 442

Zelandaturus n. gen.

Diagnosis. Idiosoma rugose, anteriorly much wider than posteriorly. Posterior idiosoma split in a dorsal and ventral part, only visible in lateral view; lateral margin of ventral part fringed with stout setae. Dorsum with six dorsal plates; large anterior plate with a pair of postocularia, large posterior plate with two pairs of glandularia, anterolateral plates with one glandularium, posterolateral plates without glandularia; one glandularia platelet lying free between lateral and posterior plates. Posterior to posterior dorsal plates a small concavity with a petiole-like structure. Eyes absent. Coxal suture lines incomplete. Anterior to fourth leg sockets a rounded lateral extension. Near gonopore two ventral flaps, and split-like gonopore hidden under these flaps. Acetabula numerous. Posterior idiosoma margin ventrally with a median cleft. Fourth legs very heavy.

Type species. Zelandaturus magnipes n. sp.

Etymology. The name is derived from New Zealand and the family name Aturidae .

Remarks. The new genus is in having a posterior idiosoma extension somewhat similar to Tryssaturopsis Cook , but the latter genus lacks a free dorsal glandularia platelet while IV-leg-2 and -4 are modified. In Cook (1983) the new genus keys out as Omegaturus Cook , which has II-leg-2 also elongated and the presence of a free dorsal glandularia platelet. However, this genus has extremely elongated palpal segments, lacks a sexual modification of the legs and projections associated with the fourth legs are much more expanded. In the notoaturine species Piotaturus alvecaudatus Cook, 1983 and Piotaturus bovalus Cook, 1983 the male gonopore is hidden also by a flap.