Arrenurus (Arrenurus) albator (Müller), Muller

Smit, Harry & Pesic, Vladimir, 2006, New records of the water mite genus Arrenurus from Iran, with the description of two new species from Iran and Cyprus (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Arrenuridae), Zootaxa 1152, pp. 59-68 : 60-61

Arrenurus (Arrenurus) albator (Müller)

( Figs. 1–7 )

Material examined: IR50, Markazi Province, Shahzand stream in Shahzand city, ca. 1870 m asl, 21 July 2003 (1/0/0).

Distribution: Palaearctic.

Remarks: New for the fauna of Iran. The specimens from Iran and eastern Turkey differ from those from Western Europe. The petiole from the latter is a simple structure: it has a basal part, with two rounded wings that are directed downwards and extended laterally. In dorsal view the petiole has a small posterior knob, which is in lateral view directed upwards ( Fig. 7 ). A central downwards directed part is lacking. Specimens from Turkey and Iran have a differently shaped petiole. Males from Turkey have a petiole with a downwards directed central part, the wings are shorter, giving the petiole altogether a mushroom­like appearance in dorsal view ( Fig. 5 ). The male from Iran is most similar to specimens from Turkey, but in lateral view the downwards directed central part of the petiole has a small posteriorly directed hump, while the most ventral part is directed anteriorly and more pointed ( Fig. 3 ). In dorsal view the petiole is more pointed. Another male from eastern Turkey has more pointed wings in dorsal view.

In other aspects (hyaline membrane, body shape, palp) all males are similar. For the time being, they are considered as belonging to the same species with a variable petiole. More material will show if the differences are consistent, and if a separate ranking of the eastern populations is warranted.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Arrenurus albator (Müller), male (1 – 3 Iran, 4 – 5 Turkey, 6 – 7 The Netherlands): 1 = idiosoma, dorsal view, 2 = detail of petiole, dorsal view, 3 = detail of petiole, lateral view, 4 = cauda, 5 = detail of petiole, lateral view, 6 = cauda, 7 = detail of petiole, lateral view. Scale Bars: 4 – 7 = 50 µm, 1 – 3 = 100 µm.