Scaptognathus gracilipalpus Otto, 2000

Abé, Hiroshi, 2021, Taxonomic review of the subfamily Lohmannellinae (Acari: Trombidiformes Halacaridae) with morphological comparisons among genera, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 201-255 : 229

Scaptognathus gracilipalpus Otto, 2000

Diagnosis. Glp-1 same level as Ds-1. Ds-2 on membranous cuticle. PE without dorsal seta. GA tripartite in female. Female with 6 Pgs and 2 Sgs. Tr I–IV with 1-1-1-1 setae; Bf I–IV with 1-1-1-1 setae; Tf I–IV with 6-4-2-2 setae, 3-1-0-0 Bp setae; Gn I–IV with 5-4-3-3 setae, 2-1-0-0 Bp setae; Tb I–IV with 8-5-6-6 setae, 5-2-3-3 Bp setae; Ta I–IV with 3-3-3-3 dorsal setae, 1-0-0-0 Bp setae. Lc I with accessory process. Idiosoma length 212–220 in female. Ratio of gnathosoma to idiosoma 0.92–0.94 in female. Ratio of P-2 to P-1 2.67 in female.

Remarks. The characteristics of this species are: AE with 2 setae, PE with 3 setae, and all tarsi with solenidia. The presence of solenidia on Ta III and Ta IV is firstly recorded in the genus. Otto (2000) suggested that the solenidia on Ta III and Ta IV could have been overlooked in other species due to their small size. Female is known.

Habitat. Littoral zone: Coarse sands at tidal line at 10–20 cm sediment depth.

Distribution. South Pacific Ocean: Bylund Cay (Great Barrier Reef) [ Australia].

Reference. Otto (2000b).

Depository. QMS, ANIC, ZIZMH.