Rhodacarus Oudemans, 1902

Castilho, Raphael C., De Moraes, Gilberto J. & Halliday, Bruce, 2012, 3471, Zootaxa 3471, pp. 1-69 : 18

Rhodacarus Oudemans (29 described species)

Movable and fixed cheliceral digits with three and 5–6 teeth, respectively. Cheliceral arthrodial process a short coronet-like fringe. Epistome with an anteromedian extension that may be of about uniform width along its length or wider at the base, and entirely smooth or with distal half serrate, and flanked by at least one pair of smooth or serrate anterolateral extensions shorter than the anteromedian extension (anterior region triangular in R. rhodacaropsis Ryke ). Seta h 3 about in longitudinal line with h 1; h 2 slightly laterad to this line and about equidistant to these setae Idiosoma elongate, 280–610 µm long and 120–310 µm wide at widest level. Ratios of width of podonotal and opisthonotal shields to maximum width of idiosoma 0.9–1 and 0.7–0.9, respectively. Dorsal idiosomal setae smooth. Podonotal shield 1–1.2 times longer than wide; smooth; usually with punctate band along posterior and lateral margins; with 18–23 pairs of setae, including four pairs (j 1, j 2, z 1 and s 1) near anterior margin; with or without V-shaped line posterior of setae j 4, z 3 and s 2 and with three scleronoduli between setae j 5 and j 6. Soft integument along lateral margins of podonotal shield with 0–4 pairs of setae. Opisthonotal shield 1.3–1.6 times longer than wide; smooth; with or without punctate band along anterior margin; with 14–19 pairs of setae. Soft integument along lateral margins of opisthonotal shield with 0–5 pairs of setae. Peritreme extending anteriorly to level between the middle of coxa III and posterior margin of coxa II. Peritrematic shield anteriorly fused or not fused to podonotal shield. Presternal platelets absent (with a pair of presternal platelets in R. berrisfordi Loots and R. rhodacaropsis ). Sternal shield longer than wide, with anterior margin indistinct and posterior margin usually with a central spine-like projection, sometimes straight. Genital shield longer than posterior width; posterior margin usually straight, sometimes convex. Opisthogaster usually without lightly sclerotised platelets between genital and ventrianal shields, sometimes with platelets. Ventrianal shield longer than wide, smooth, with 4–6 pairs of preanal setae; anterior margin straight or convex. Soft integument around ventrianal shield with 0–3 pairs of setae. Usually with a pair of elongate (with or without a pore-like structure) metapodal platelets, sometimes with a pair of elongate and a pair of rounded platelets. Pretarsus I absent. Seta pl 4 of tarsus IV absent.