Tartarothyas curtipalpis, Orginal, 2021

Orginal, Harry Smit, 2021, The water mites of Western Australia (Acari: Hydrachnidia), with the description of 13 new species, Acarologia 61 (4), pp. 928-966 : 931-932

Tartarothyas curtipalpis n. sp.

Zoobank: 38853F74-22D5-4D73-941F-7AE6C30FD03A

( Figures 3 A-D)

Material examined — Holotype female, Carey Brook near Pemberton, Western Australia, Australia, 34°26′ S 115°47′E, 18 Sept. 1989, leg. I. Growns (slide T147382 , WAM).

Diagnosis — P2 and P4 and leg segments very stocky.

Description — Female: Due to mounting, idiosoma length and width cannot be measured anymore. Dorsum not well visible in the slide. Coxae in four groups, Cx-III and Cx-IV relatively short ( Figure 3A). Genital field 156 long, with three pairs of elongate acetabula. Length of P1-5: 24, 54, 30, 62, 39. P2 and P4 very stocky ( Figure 3B). Length of I-leg-4-6:

64, 74, 89 (till tip of segment); I-leg-6 dorsally with a group of setae. First leg segments stocky 50 µm.

( Figure 3C). Length of IV-leg-4-6: 104, 107, 88. Fourth leg segments relatively short ( Figure 3D). Legs without swimming setae.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology — Named for its stocky palp.

Remarks — The new species differs from all other Australian species in the very stocky palp and leg segments. Unfortunately, as the dorsum is not separated from the venter in the slide, the configuration of the dorsal glandularia cannot be examined anymore.