Pseudoaustraliobates flindersi, Smit, Harry, 2009

Smit, Harry, 2009, New Australian hygrobatids (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Hygrobatidae), with the description of two new genera and three new species, Zootaxa 2114, pp. 61-68 : 67-68

Pseudoaustraliobates flindersi n. sp.

( Figs. 12–17 )

Material examined. Holotype male, Bunyeroo Creek at Bunyeroo Gorge, Flinders Ranges NP, South Australia, Australia, 31° 25’14.77” S 138° 34’14.39” E, 19 October 2001, leg. H. Smit ( SAM). Paratypes, 4 males, 3 females, same data as holotype ( SAM); 1 female, Enorama Creek, Flinders Ranges NP, South Australia, Australia, 19 October 2001, leg. H. Smit ( SAM); 3 males, 8 females, Aroona Creek, Flinders Ranges NP, South Australia, Australia, 19 October 2001, leg. H. Smit ( SAM); 3 males, 12 females, Oraparinna Creek, Flinders Ranges NP, South Australia, Australia, 19 October 2001, leg. H. Smit ( ZMAN); 1 male, 1 female, Telowie Creek, Mt. Remarkable NP, South Australia, Australia, 17 October 2001, leg. H. Smit ( SAM).

Diagnosis. As for genus.

Description. Male: Idiosoma soft, with small, rounded papillae, 786 (844–1025) long and 697 (816–939) wide. Dorsum without plates or platelets. Gnathosoma not fused with coxal plates, anteroventrally with small papillae. Posterior process of gnathosoma relatively short, somewhat enlarged posteriorly. First coxal plates not fused medially ( Fig. 12 ). Fourth coxal plates with long apodemes, posteriorly with short apodemes. Genital field 116 long and 170 wide, with three pairs of acetabula lying in an arc. Genital field anteriorly with numerous small setae ( Fig. 13 ). Gonopore 58 long and 56 wide, almost rounded, slightly pointed posteriorly. Lengths of PI–PV: 30, 126, 82, 134, 41. PII ventrally with minute papillae; PIII ventrally with a large rounded extension with minute papillae ( Fig. 15 ); PIV stocky, ventrally with a ridge and a hyaline membrane, two ventral setae on a short tubercle and anteromedially a short, heavy seta ( Fig. 14 ); PV stocky. Lengths of I-leg- 4-6: 255, 251, 160; I-leg-5 anteroventrally with two short setae ( Fig. 16 ). Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 401, 417, 251. Legs reddish, without swimming setae. Claws of legs with clawlet, without claw blade. Excretory pore smooth.

Female: Idiosoma soft, with small, rounded papillae, 1045 (905–1849) long and 945 (804–1648) wide. Dorsum without plates or platelets. Gnathosoma not fused with coxal plates, anteroventrally with small papillae. Posterior process of gnathosoma relatively short, enlarged posteriorly. First coxal plates not fused medially. Fourth coxal plates posteriorly with short apodemes. Genital field 243 long and 235 wide, with three pairs of acetabula lying in an arc ( Fig. 17 ). Genital field anteriorly with 6–7 setae. Gonopore 213 long. Lengths of PI–PV: 54, 178, 132, 184, 50; palp as in male. Lengths of I-leg-4-6: 337, 324, 200; first leg as in male, but I-leg-5 anteroventrally with one pointed and one truncate seta, the latter is the more anterior one of the two (shape apparently depending on the position of the seta in the slide). Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 502, 502, 292. Legs as in male.

Etymology. The new species is named after the English explorer Matthew Flinders (1774–1814), after whom the Flinders Ranges, home of the type locality, are named.

Remarks. A second visit to the Flinders Ranges NP and Mt Remarkable NP in March 2008 yielded no further specimens of the new species. Apparently the species is present only in spring, and disappears in autumn.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 13. Pseudoaustraliobates flindersi n. sp., holotype male. 12) ventral view, scale bar = 200 µm. 13) genital field, scale bar = 50 µm.

FIGURES 14 – 17. Pseudoaustraliobates flindersi n. sp., holotype male. 14) palp; 15) PIII; 16) I-leg- 4 - 6. Scale bar = 50 µm. paratype female. 17) ventral view, scale bar = 200 µm.