Nippobodidae

Chen, Jun & Wang, Hui-Fu, 2007, Taxonomic study on the family Nippobodidae (Acari: Oribatida) from China, Zootaxa 1464, pp. 45-63 : 61-62

Key to the genera and species of the family Nippobodidae

1. Prodorsal condyles interlocking medially .................................................Genus Leobodes Aoki, 1965 ... 2

- Prodorsal condyles well separated from each other...............................Genus Nippobodes Aoki, 1959 ... 7

2. Prodorsal condyles forming large ring anterior to interlocking region ....................................................... 3

- Prodorsal condyles not forming ring anterior to interlocking region ......................................................... 4

3. Prodorsal ring heart-shaped; setae c not forked; setae ro inserted laterally. 663–745X408–485Μm ............ ................................................................................................................................ L. annulatus Aoki, 1965

- Prodorsal ring elliptical; setae c forked; setae ro inserted dorsally. 628X430Μm ......... L. yinae Aoki, 2000

4. Prodorsal condyles slender and transverse ridge-like; notogastral setae short and slightly swollen distally; setae c straight; body relatively large. 850–875 X 550–590Μm ........................... L. lijiangensis Aoki, 2000

- Prodorsal condyles thick and massive; notogastral setae long and pointed; setae c curved; body relatively small (body length under 700Μm) ............................................................................................................... 5

5. Distance between intersections of inner margins of prodosal and humeral condyles clearly shorter than vertical distance between intersection of posterior margins of prodorsal condyles and anterior margin of notogaster. 540–582 X 376–412Μm .......................................................................... L. mirabilis Aoki, 1965

- Distance between intersections of inner margins of prodorsal and humeral condyles distinctly longer than vertical distance between intersection of posterior margins of prodorsal condyles and anterior margin of

notogaster..................................................................................................................................................... 6 6. Anterior margin of prodorsal condyles arched; prodorsal setae smooth, arched transverse ridge connecting insertions of le indented medially; notogaster with distinct irregular longitudinal ridges. 645 X 450Μm.... ..................................................................................................................................... L. carinatus sp. nov.

- Anterior margin of prodorsal condyles concave medially, almost U-shaped; prodorsal setae ro, le and in slightly barbed distally, arched transverse ridge connecting insertions of le without indentation; surface of notogaster smooth. 665 X 420Μm .......................................................................... L. praeconcavus sp. nov.

7. Notogastral setae 8 pairs, setae h2 and p2 absent. 748–824 X 496–568Μm ........... N. chejuensis Choi, 1996

- Notogastral setae 9 or 10 pairs, setae h2 and p2 present ............................................................................... 8

8. Notogastral setae 9 pairs, seta c absent. 810 X 580Μm ............................................... N. latus ( Aoki, 1970)

- Notogastral setae 10 pairs, seta c present .................................................................................................... 9

9. Notogastral setae relatively long (RLN* 40–65, seta lm of N. monstruosus excluded), flagellate (except seta la straight and acuminate) .................................................................................................................. 10

- Notogastral setae relatively short (RLN under 40), not curved or flagellate, seta la subequal in shape and length to other notogastral setae ................................................................................................................ 11

10. Tip of tutorium blunt; seta lm long, flagellate; seta ad3 relatively short. 540–665 X 375–515Μm ............... ..................................................................................................................................... N. flagellifer sp. nov.

- Tutorium concave anteriorly, with small lateral tooth; seta lm very short; seta ad3 extremely small. 542– 669 X 398–536Μm ............................................................................... N. monstruosus (Jeleva et Vu, 1987)

11. Seate le, in and notogastral setae (c excluded) smooth basally, strongly barbed distally; notogaster ornamented with small tubercles. 595–730 X 380–495Μm ............................................ N. peniculatus sp. nov.

- Setae le, in and notogastral setae either completely smooth or barbed ..................................................... 12

12. Notogastral setae la, lm, lp, h1, and h2 barbed, weakly broadened distally................................................ 13

- Notogastral setae la, lm, lp, h1, and h2 smooth, or slightly barbed, never broadened distally .................. 14

13. Prodorsal condyles separated, but each with median extension**; seta c twisted twice; other notogastral setae 10–20 in RLN. 515–655 X 340–438Μm ..................................................... N. yuwanensis Aoki, 1981

- Prodorsal condyles clearly separated from each other; seta c simple, not twisted; other notogastral setae 6– 14 in RLN. 610–615 X 420–425Μm .................................................................... N. tokaraensis Aoki, 1989

14. Notogastral setae rather long (RLN> 15) ................................................................................................. 15

- Notogastral setae short (RLN <12)........................................................................................................... 16

15. Bothridial seta expanded distally, rather short; notogastral setae smooth. 630–720 X 470–490Μm............. .................................................................................................................................. N. insolitus Aoki, 1959

- Bothridial seta slightly expanded medially, and then attenuate; notogastral setae slightly barbed. 655–690 X 448–485Μm ........................................................................................................ N. tamlaensis Choi, 1996

16. Setae ro, le and in distinctly barbed distally, bases of prodorsal condyles without bridge-like structures connecting each other, setae la and lm almost at same level, distances between h1 and h2 slightly shorter than that between lp and h2. 565 X 365Μm .................................................... N. pseudobrevisetiger sp. nov.

- Setae ro, le and in smooth, bases of prodorsal condyles with bridge-like structures connecting each other, lm located behind level of la, distance between h1 and h2 distinctly longer than that between lp and h2. 555–625 X 385–460Μm ....................................................................................... N. brevisetiger Aoki, 1981