Tuberocepheus longus ( BALOGH, 1964 )

Mahunka, S., 2011, New And Little Known Oribatid Mites From Madagascar (Acari: Oribatida) Ii., Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 57 (1), pp. 1-21 : 5

Tuberocepheus longus ( BALOGH, 1964)

( Figs 5–12 )

The original description of Machadocepheus (= Tuberocepheus ) longus is short (BALOGH 1984) and therefore I give a re-description and some figures based on the newly collected specimens.

Diagnosis: Posterior part of prodorsum convex, anterior part gradually flattened in lateral view. Notogaster with a concave median area anteriorly and a highly elevated transversal part medially. Interlamellar setae short and simple, sensillus long, lanceolate, its head curved backwards. Fourteen pairs of very thin, simple and smooth notogastral setae, six pairs of them arising on median elevation. Epimeral and ventral plates strongly sclerotised, anogenital region conspicuously framed by well-developed crests. Genito-anal setal formula: 4–1–2–3. Anterior adanal setae located far anteriorly from the anal aperture. Monodactylous legs, all femora with characteristic ventral keel.

Material examined: 2 specimens: Madagascar, Toamasina Province. Maromizaha forest . 26. August 1998. Leg. T. Pócs (No. 9890) (Afr-923).

Measurements: Length of body: 548–575 µm, width of body: 332–363 µm.

Prodorsum: Rostral part wide, without median apex. Rostral setae inserted near to anteromedian margin borne on minute tubercles. Anterior part of prodorsum well separated by a transversal crest (well observable in dorsal aspect), posterior part arising from this part (observable in lateral aspect). Lamellae wide anteriorly, gradually narrowed posteriorly. Lamellar setae arising near to lamellar tip. Lamellar setae unilaterally spinose. Interlamellar setae simple, short, located on the prodorsal surface. Sensillus very long, lanceolate, distinctly pilose, recurved dorsally.

Notogaster: Dorsosejugal depression weak, humeral projection well observable. A conspicuous high elevation in median part of notogaster bordered laterally with two pairs of arch-shaped structures, and two anterior and posterior crests. Body surface mostly alveolate. Fourteen (15?) pairs of simple, smooth notogastral setae present. Three pairs of them located anteriorly, six pairs on the elevation and 5 pairs marginally.

Lateral part of podosoma: Tutorium long, well-developed, without cusp. Pedotectum I long, narrow, well covering acetabulum I.

Ventral region: Epimeral region well sclerotised, with apodemes and borders, separated by a wide sternal field medially. Between anterior epimeres a round thickening (tubercle?) observable. Epimeral setae formula: 3–1–3–3, all setae thin and simple, setae 1a and 1b arising close to each other, setae 1c positioned far laterally. Ventral plate with well sclerotised crests, located mainly in longitudinal, rarely in transversal position. Between genital and anal aperture a short unpaired crest also present. Interspace between both apertures much longer than the length of genital aperture. Genito-anal setal formula: 4–1–2–3, adanal setae ad 3 located far anteriorly, near to aggenital setae. The remaining two pairs of adanal setae located posteriorly to anal aperture. Anal setae much shorter than genital setae.

Legs: All legs monodactyl. Femora I–IV each with characteristically formed ventral keel.

Figures

Figs 5–7. Tuberocepheus longus (BALOGH, 1964): 5 = body in dorsal view, 6 = body in ventral view, 7 = podosoma in lateral view

Figs 8–12. Tuberocepheus longus (BALOGH, 1964): 8 = trichobothrium and humeral partof notogaster, 9 = femur of leg I, 10 = femur of leg II, 11 = femur of leg IV, 12 = femur of leg III