taxonID	type	description	language	source
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	description	Figure 3 – 4	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined — Holotype ♀ (RMNH), Cyprus, Kissonerga, 34.82525 º N, 32.38855 º E, collected from algae on the rock walls of the swimming pool, protected from the waves, 12 th July 2023, leg. Zawal dissected and slide mounted, sequenced (voucher ID: K 82 _ 36, BOLD ID: HYDPT 132 - 24). Paratypes: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype, 1 ♂ dissected and slide mounted (RMNH).	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis — P- 5 longer than half of P- 4, dL P- 4 / P- 5 ratio 1.7 – 1.8; posteromedial apodemes of Cx-IV broader than the lateral ones; female genital field shifted anteriorly reaching the level of medial apodemes of Cx-I / II suture lines, anterior genital sclerite broadly arrow-shaped.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	description	Description. Female — Cx-I separated medially; suture lines Cx-I / II and Cx-III / IV complete, suture line CxII / III incomplete; posterior margin of Cx-IV with two pairs of apodemes of moderate length, the medial apodemes broader than the lateral ones, strongly exceeding the posterior margin of genital field, anterior and posterior genital sclerites bowed, pregenital sclerite wide arrow-shaped (Figure 3 A); a pair of small platelets with Cxgl- 4 (E 4 according to Wiles et al. 2002) and associated setae free in the integument between the posterior apodemes of CxIV; posterior to the genital field a pair of platelets with three pores and a glandularium-like structure, and three pairs of small wheel-like acetabula, with relatively few radiating spokes; excretory pore unsclerotized, near posterior end of idiosoma; P- 2 without ventral extension, P- 5 longer than half of P- 4, P- 4 ventral setae lying at the same level (Figures 3 B, 4 C); IV-L- 4 with one swimming seta, IV-L- 5 with two swimming setae. Male — Similar to female, except for the shape of the genital field and postgenital area (Figure 4 A). Medial apodemes of Cx-IV slightly extending beyond the anterior margin of genital field, genital field consisting of a sclerotized ring with four to five pairs of setae; many perigenital setae (around 70 pairs) free in the integument around the genital field. Measurements. Female (holotype) — Idiosoma L 491, W 356; coxal field L 263, W 338; genital field L 81, anterior genital sclerite W 67, posterior genital sclerite W 63. Palp: dL / H: P- 1, 20 / 27; P- 2, 140 / 62; P- 3, 73 / 60; P- 4, 158 / 33; P- 5, 88 / 22; dL P- 4 / P- 5 ratio 1.79. Chelicera total L 238, basal segment L 192, claw L 58. dL of I-L- 1 to - 6: 63, 59, 75, 83, 113, 122; dL of IV-L- 2 to - 6: 98, 69, 83, 128, 153, 148. Male (paratype) — Idiosoma L 513, W 356; coxal field L 236, W 309; sclerotized ring of genital field L / W 56 / 41. Ejaculatory complex (Figure 4 C) L 104. Palp: dL / H: P- 1, 19 / 25; P- 2, 106 / 54; P- 3, 53 / 48; P- 4, 120 / 48; P- 5, 69 / 18; dL P- 4 / P- 5 ratio 1.74. dL of I-L- 1 to - 6: 60, 48, 61, 70, 100, 120; dL of IV-L- 2 to - 6: 114, 59, 64, 109, 133, 138	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	etymology	Etymology — The specific epithet cypriotica refers to Cyprus, where the species was discovered.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	discussion	Remarks — The specimens from Cyprus described here as Litarachna cypriotica sp. nov. closely resemble L. communis and differ from the Slovenian lineage of the L. communis group in sharing a comparatively less elongated P- 4 and a P- 5 distinctly longer than half the length of P- 4 (in the Slovenian lineage, P- 4 is comparatively longer and P- 5 is nearly half as long as P- 4). In addition, in L. cypriotica sp. nov. the female genital field is shifted anteriorly, with the posterior ends of the medial apodemes of Cx-IV strongly exceeding the posterior margin of the genital field, whereas in the Slovenian lineage the female genital field is positioned more posteriorly, reaching approximately the level of the posterior margin of the medial apodemes of Cx-IV. From L. communis, the new species from Cyprus differs in having stouter posteromedial apodemes that are distinctly broader than the lateral ones (slender than the lateral apodemes in L. communis), and a female genital field that is more rounded in shape, with the anterior genital sclerite broadly arrow-shaped. In contrast, in L. communis the anterior and posterior genital sclerites are more widely separated and the anterior sclerite is rounded (see Walter 1925, fig. 18).	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD39FFFFFF59F928FE529E5E.taxon	distribution	Distribution — Cyprus.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFFFF59FCACFD1F99EA.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined — 1 ♀ dissected and slide mounted (RMNH), Egypt, Hurghada, 27.089489 º N, 33.856297 º E, collected on red algae (stiff, short) on a dead coral reef, 19 th Dec. 2023 leg. Zawal, sequenced (voucher ID: K 83 _ 26, BOLD ID: HYDPT 170 - 24). Remarks — The single examined female from Hurghada matches the description of L. smiti, a species described from southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia (Pešić et al. 2008 a, b). The specimen from Egypt forms a unique BIN (BOLD: AGH 8821). Distribution — Red Sea. New for Egypt.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	description	Figure 5	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined — Holotype ♀, dissected and slide mounted (RMNH), Egypt, Hurghada, 27.084282 º N, 33.87223 º E, collected on algae (clumps with long thallus), 18 th Dec. 2023, leg. Zawal, sequenced (voucher ID: K 83 _ 25, BOLD ID: HYDPT 169 - 24).	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis — Posterior margin of Cx-IV with slender medial posterior apodemes; Cxgl- 4 not between posterior apodemes of Cx-IV; V 3 gland located postero-lateral to Lgl- 3 and anterior to pair of platelets with two “ wheels ” and a pore.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	description	Description. Female (holotype) — Idiosoma L 413, W 356; coxal field L 163, W 245; Cx-I separated medially; suture lines Cx-II / III incomplete; suture line of Cx-III / IV ending in posteromedial apodemes; posterior margin of Cx-IV with two pairs of long apodemes exceeding the level of anterior genital sclerite, the medial apodemes much slender than the lateral ones, not extending posteriorly beyond the postgenital sclerite (Figure 5 B). Genital field L 71, anterior sclerite slightly bowed, W 50, longer than posterior sclerite (W 41), posterior sclerite bearing a pair of wheel-like acetabula sensu Cook 1996). Cxgl- 4 not between posterior apodemes of Cx-IV, shifted posteriorly to posterolateral apodeme of Cx-IV and anterolaterally to a pair of platelets (= acetabular platelet sensu Cook 1996) bearing a pore and two “ wheel-like ” acetabula, a pair of glandularium-like structure (V 3 gland sensu Wiles et al. 2002) located slightly postero-lateral to Lgl- 3. Excretory pore unsclerotized, near the posterior idiosoma margin. Gnathosoma vL 102; chelicera total L 290; palp dL / H ratio: P- 1, 22 / 16; P- 2, 50 / 28; P- 3, 48 / 27; P- 4, 64 / 18; P- 5, 22 / 10; dL P- 2 / P- 4 ratio 0.78; P- 3 ventral margin straight; P- 4 slender, slightly bowed, ventral margin without a tubercle (Figure 5 C). Legs: dL of I-L- 3 - 6 (Figure 5 D): 47, 42, 59, 79; I-L- 6 H 32, I-L- 6 dL / H ratio 2.5; dL of IV-L: 70, 56, 58, 97, 102, 109; claws strong with ventral and dorsal clawlets (Figure 5 E); number of swimming setae: IV-L- 4, 1; IV-L- 5, 2. Male — unknown.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	etymology	Etymology — The new species is named in honor of our friend Tom Goldschmidt (Munich) in appreciation of his work of pontarachnid mites.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	discussion	Remarks — The new species morphologically resembles Pontarachna punctulum Philippi, 1840, originally described from the Gulf of Naples, Tyrrhenian Sea (Philippi 1840) and later reported from various parts of the Mediterranean Sea as well as the Red Sea (K. O. Viets 1959). P. punctulum differs from the new species in having the Cxgl- 4 located between the posterior apodemes of Cx-IV and the V 3 gland shifted more posteriorly, positioned approximately halfway between Lgl- 3 and a platelet bearing two “ wheels ” and a pore (Walter 1925, fig. 6; Pešić et al. 2019, fig. 2). Pontarachna adriatica Morselli, 1980, originally described by Morselli (1980) from lagoons in the northern Adriatic Sea, can be easily distinguished from the new species by the position of the V 3 gland, which is located posterior to a pair of platelets bearing two “ wheels ” and a pore.	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
F2414237FD34FFFDFF59FAF0FDAA9F2A.taxon	distribution	Distribution — Red Sea (Egypt).	en	Pešić, Vladimir, Bańkowska, Aleksandra, Rewicz, Tomasz, Górecka, Ewa, Asif, Maryam, Zawal, Andrzej (2026): Integrative taxonomy uncovers two new pontarachnid mite species from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari). Zootaxa 5799 (1): 157-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.1.8
