Sinella claviseta sp. nov.

Figs 17–30

Types. Holotype: female on slide, New Caledonia: Bouloupari: Mont Do, elevation 950 m, 12.xii.1995, Nothofagus litter, Berlese extraction, Louis Deharveng & Anne Bedos leg. (samples NC95-207, NC95-213). Paratypes: 5 females on slides, same data as holotype. Holotype and 3 paratypes in MNHN; 2 paratypes in NJAU.

Description. Body length up to 1.1 mm.

Body pale yellow in alcohol. Antenna 1.9–2.1 times as long as cephalic diagonal. Antennal segments ratio as I:II:III:IV = 1:2.1:1.9:4.1. Ant. IV thin and slightly annulated. Ant. III organ with chaetae 2 and 3 rod-like (Fig. 17). Ant. IV apically with a clubbed chaeta (Fig. 18). Lateral process of labial palp thicker than normal chaetae, with tip not reaching apex of labial papilla (Fig. 19). Labial base as mrel1l2, all smooth; r 0.3–0.4 times as long as chaeta m; chaeta X smooth; chaeta X4 ciliate; chaetae X2 and X3 absent; a smooth mic between H2 and H3, sometimes absent (Fig. 20). Dorsal cephalic chaetotaxy with 5 sutural mac (S) and 3 mac in Gr. II (Fig. 21).

Trochanteral organ with 8–10 smooth spiny chaetae; 6–7 in arms and 2–3 between them (Fig. 22). Ungual basal paired teeth unequal and located at 0.2 distance from base to apex, outer one large; distal unpaired tooth absent. Unguiculus with an outer tooth of medium size. Tenent hair pointed, subequal to unguiculus (Fig. 23). Abd. IV 4 times as long as Abd. III along dorsal midline. Ventral tube anteriorly with 4 ciliate chaetae on each side (Fig. 24); posteriorly with 6 smooth chaetae; each lateral flap with 4(3) smooth chaetae (Fig. 25). Manubrial plaque with 3(2) pseudopores and 2 ciliate chaetae. Distal smooth part of dens about 3 times as long as mucro. Mucronal apical tooth slightly larger than subapical one; basal spine short with tip just reaching apex of subapical tooth (Fig. 26).

Th. II with 2 (m1, m 1i) medio-medial, 1 (m4) medio-lateral, and 10–11 posterior mac. Th. III with 16 mac; a 6i sometimes absent (in young specimens) or as mes; mac a 4i absent; p5 and m6e as mic (Fig. 27). Abd. I with 3 (m2–4) central mac. Abd. II with 2 (m3, m3e) central and 1 (m5) lateral mac. Abd. III with 1 (m3) central and 2 (pm6, p6) lateral mac (Fig. 28). Abd. IV with 4 (I, M, A5, B5) central, 6 (D3, E2–3, E2p, F1, F1a) lateral mac, 10 short sens and 9–14 long sens; number and position of the short s-chaetae constant (Fig. 29). Abd. V with 4 sens; m2, m3 and m5 always much larger than others (Fig. 30).

Ecology. In litter of Nothofagus and Araucaria forest.

Etymology. Named after the clubbed chaeta (latin roots clavus and seta) on distal part of Ant. IV.

Remarks. This new species is closest to Sinella quadriseta sp. nov. Their differences are discussed above in the remarks about Sinella quadriseta sp. nov. Clubbed chaeta on distal part of Ant. IV is unique among the described species of the genus.