Fessonia assmuthi ( Oudemans, 1941 ) Oudemans, 1941

Zhang, Zhi-Qiang, 2003, Taxonomic status of Ve i t h i a Oudemans, 1941 and redescriptions of two species described by Oudemans (Acari: Smarididae), Zootaxa 145, pp. 1-8 : 5-8

Fessonia assmuthi ( Oudemans, 1941) comb. nov.

( Figs. 4 ­6)

Veithia assmuthi Oudemans, 1941: 182 ; van Eyndhoven 1943: 45 & 52.

Type: Slide 1549 “Op eln Chiropteron, Khandala ( Bombay) 2.XI.1917, Assmuth leg. Schmitz don”. One female specimen was mounted dorsal side up. The slide is in relatively good condition, but the setae on the palp appear blurred.

Female. Idiosoma 875 m long from tip of naso to posterior end of opisthosoma, 325 m wide near mid­idiosoma. Crista metopica extending to mid­idiosoma. Anterior sensillary area located posteromediad of two pairs of eyes (285 m from tip of proposoma), with a single seta (23 m long) in addition to trichobothria v 1. Trichobothria v 1 ciliated; setal length ca 50 m long; their bases 17 m apart. Posterior sensilla ciliated, 210 m away from anterior one; sc 1 90 m long, bases 15 m apart. Two pairs of eyes of unequal size; anterior eyes 40 m in diameter, posterior eyes 30 m, located slightly posterolaterad of anterior eyes. Dorsal setae broader than those in V. schneideri ; 20­35 m long, 7­9 m wide; their tectum with 5­7 columns and ca 20 rows of spicules.

Ventral setae slightly smaller than dorsal setae. Genital pore and anus obscured in the slide mount.

Legs (coxae to tibiae) covered with spiculed setae similar to body setae, but more pointed and longer. Leg setae becoming shorter in more distal segments; dorsal setae of trochanter ca 50 m long, but those of tibia and tarsus less than 30 m long.

Measurements of lengths of leg I: coxa 160 m, trochanter 80 m, basifemur 150 m, telofemur 235 m, genu 290 m, tibia 260 m, tarsus 155 m.

Measurements of lengths of leg II: coxa 138 m, trochanter 83 m, basifemur 83 m, telofemur 125 m, genu 187 m, tibia 175 m, tarsus 110 m.

Measurements of lengths of leg III: coxa 120 m, trochanter 75 m, basifemur 85 m, telofemur 133 m, genu 154 m, tibia 205 m, tarsus 112 m.

Measurements of lengths of leg IV: coxa 210 m, trochanter 90 m, basifemur 115 m, telofemur 175 m, genu 262 m, tibia 250 m, tarsus 120 m.

Gnathosoma. Chelicerae ca 550 m long. Palp setae pointed, as for leg setae, but smaller; palptarsus 18 m long, just reaching tip of tibial claw. Palptarsus with numerous setae and 3 termial eupathidia. Palptibia 30 m long (excluding claw). Palpgenu 35 m long. Palpfemur 95 m long. Palptrochanter obscured.

Remarks. The only other Fessonia known in India is F. australiensis Southcott, 1946 , but F. assmuthi is readily distinguished from it by the shape of dorsal setae and a longer distance between anterior and posterior trichobothria (210 m versus 142­148 m). F. assmuthi looks most similar to F. serrata Southcott, 1963 , but its eyes are much larger.

Chiroptera seems unusual as a host/habitat for this species. It is likely that the mite was accidentally collected from the bat.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Fessonia assmuthi (Oudemans, 1941). Original drawing by Oudemans.