Sciuracarus Fain, 1964

Bochkov, Andre V., Zabludovskaya, Svetlana & Oconnor, Barry M., 2008, Phylogeny and systematics of the endoparasitic astigmatid mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) of mammals: families Gastronyssidae, Lemurnyssidae, and Pneumocoptidae, Zootaxa 1951 (1), pp. 1-152 : 129

Genus Sciuracarus Fain, 1964

Fain 1964b: 43, figs. 1–2; Smith et al. 1985: 481; Zabludovskaya 1990: 32.

Type species: Sciuracarus paraxeri Fain, 1964 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. ADULTS. Posterior margin of subcapitulum with pair of distinct triangular projections ventrally. Sternum connected with proximal ends of apodemes II by transverse sclerotized band. Distal ends of apodemes II connected to each other by hypertrophied posterior apodemes of coxal fields II. Apodemes III–IV free. Coxal fields I without posterior projections. Folds posterior to coxal fields II absent. Coxal fields III–IV slightly sclerotized. Tarsi subequal in length to respective tibiae and bearing distinctly developed pretarsi. Trochanters III–IV with distinct ventral folds. Spurs or projections absent on other leg segments. Idiosomal setation (see Table 1): setae h1 absent; setae si, se, cp, c3, 1a, 3a, h2 all filiform, h2 whip-like; c2, 4a, 4b, g, ps3 all microspines with distinct bases; h3 and f2 alveoli only. Leg setation (see Tables 2 and 3): solenidion ϕIV absent; setae d I–IV, gT I–II, k TIII–IV, cG I, mG I–II, vF I–II all filiform, setae d I–IV whip-like; r I–II alveoli; e I–IV, f III–IV, w I–IV, ba I–II, la I–II, r III–IV all very small microspines, ba I–II situated on nipple-like protrusion; f I–II and s I–IV spur-like; cG I–II and pRI–II microspines with distinct bases.

FEMALE. Bursa copulatrix opening terminal.

MALE and IMMATURE STAGES. Unknown.

Species included: type species only.

Host range and distribution. The single species of this genus is known from the nasal passages of the South African squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi (Smith) ( Rodentia : Sciuridae ) (see Tables 6 and 7).