Paroppia breviseta ( Balogh, 1962 )

Ermilov, Sergey G. & Rybalov, Leonid B., 2014, Ethiopian oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) from the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition (2012), with description of a new species, African Invertebrates 55 (1), pp. 27-37 : 33-36

Paroppia breviseta ( Balogh, 1962)

Figs 3–4

Oppia breviseta: Balogh 1962: 100 .

Paroppia breviseta: Subías & Balogh 1989: 385 .

Diagnosis (based on Ethiopian specimens): body size 315–332 ×182–199; rostrum rounded; rostral setae ciliate, longer than smooth lamellar and interlamellar setae; sensilli long, with elongate lanceolate, indistinctly barbed head; interbothridial region with three pairs of muscle sigillae; notogastral setae c represented by alveoli, other setae of medium size, thin, slightly barbed; anogenital setae of medium size, similar in length, smooth.

Description:

Measurements. Body (length× width): 315–332 ×182–199 (2♂ 5♀).

Integument. Body light brown. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of body smooth, lateral surfaces microgranulate.

Prodorsum ( Figs 3A, 3C ; 4A, 4B ). Rostrum rounded. Rostral setae (24–32) setiform, unilaterally with short cilia. Lamellar and interlamellar setae similar in length (12), setiform, smooth. Sensilli (65–73) with long stalk and elongate lanceolate head; sensillar heads with several poorly developed barbs in anterior part (visible only under high magnification). Exobothridial setae and their alveoli absent. Interbothridial region with three pairs of muscle sigillae removed from each other.

Notogaster ( Figs 3A, 3C , 4C ). Anterior notogastral margin convex medially. A pair of small tubercles (tb) located dorsolaterally to anterior margin. Nine pairs of notogastral setae of medium size (18–24), setiform, with poorly developed barbs (visible only under high magnification); one pair (c) represented by alveoli. Circumgastric band of muscle sigillae distinct. Opisthonotal gland openings and lyrifissures developed in typical arrangement for genus.

Anogenital region ( Figs 3B, 3C , 4G ). Three pairs of adanal, one pair of aggenital, two pairs of anal, four pairs of genital setae similar morphologically: 12–26, setiform, thin, smooth. Lyrifissures iad in para-anal position, located near to anal aperture.

Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions ( Figs 3B, 3C ). Apodemes 1, 2, 4 and sejugal apodemes distinct. Epimeral setal formula: 3–1–3–3. Setae 3c longer (24 –28), barbed; other setae shorter (12–26), indistinctly barbed. Pedotecta I concave. Discidia triangular.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 4D–4F ). Subcapitulum anarthric, longer than wide: 65–73× 49–53. Subcapitular setae similar in length (16–18), setiform, with one to three small barbs. Lateral lips without setae and associated alveoli. Palps (length 49–53) with setation

0–2–1–2–7(+ω). Solenidion thickened, blunt-ended, pressed to the palptarsus, not coupled with eupathidium.All setae (except some on tarsi) weakly barbed. Chelicerae (length 65–73) with one tooth on each movable and fixed digit; both cheliceral setae similar in length (10), setiform, slightly barbed.

Legs ( Figs 4H–4J ). Claw of each leg smooth. Apophysis on tibiae I well developed. Formulae of leg setation and solenidia: I (1–5–2–4–20) [1–2–2], II (1–5–2–4–16) [1–1–2], III (2–3–1–3–15) [1–1–0], IV (1–2–2–3–12) [0–1–0]; homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 3. Almost all setae (except p, s) barbed or with short cilia. Famulus short, straight, indistinctly dilated apically, blunted. Setae p on tarsi II–IV represented by poorly developed thorn-like setae. Solenidia σ on genua I, II and φ 1 on tibia I long, setiform; other solenidia shorter, thickened, blunt-ended.

Material examined: 2 ♂ 5♀ ETHIOPIA: Et-12–10. Preserved in ethanol (PC) .

Distribution: At present, this species is only known from Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Remarks: The present Ethiopian specimens of P. brevipes are morphologically and in general appearance comparable to the Tanzanian specimens ( Balogh 1962), although with slight differences: lamellar and interlamellar setae similar in length (interlamellar setae shorter in Tanzanian specimens), anterior part of sensillar heads with several poorly visible barbs (sensillar heads smooth in Tanzanian specimens), interlamellar muscle sigillae removed from each other (sigillae dense in Tanzanian specimens). We regard these differences as intraspecific (perhaps geographical) variability within the species.

Figures

Fig.3. Paroppia breviseta (Balogh, 1962): (A) dorsal view (legs not shown); (B) ventral view (gnathosoma and legs not shown); (C) lateral view (gnathosoma and legs except trochanters III, IV not shown). Scale bar=100 μm.

Fig. 4. Paroppia breviseta (Balogh, 1962): (A) rostral seta; (B) sensillus; (C) notogastral seta lm; (D) subcapitulum, left half; (E) palp; (F) chelicera; (G) genital plate, left; (H) leg I, right, antiaxial view; (I) tibia and genu of leg II, right, antiaxial view; (J) trochanter of leg IV, right, antiaxial view. Scale bar A, C=10 μm; B, D–J=50 μm.