Brachypoda Lebert, 1879

Esen, Yunus, Pešić, Vladimir & Erman, Orhan, 2013, Water mites of the genus Brachypoda (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Aturidae) in Turkey, Zootaxa 3686 (3), pp. 326-334 : 327-330

Genus: Brachypoda Lebert, 1879

Brachypoda (Hemibrachypoda) orientalis Peši ć & Esen sp. nov. ( Figure 1 A–G , 2 A–G )

(“ Brachypoda (Hemibrachypoda) mutila” Tuzovskij 1978 ; Boyacı & Özkan 2004; Pešić et al. 2006; Esen et al. 2011).

Type series. Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Malatya Province, Pütürge, Mezra stream, 38°15.01' N, 38°38.37' E, 1590 m a.s.l., 06.ix.2003. Paratype: three males, same data as holotype, dissected and slide mounted.

Further records. Erzincan Province, Kemaliye, Kabataş village, stream, 39°19.30' N 38°33.57' E, 1470 m a.s.l., 01.vii.2011, 2/2/0; ibid. 07.ix.2011, 0/1/0.

Diagnosis. Colour yellow. Excretory pore on dorsal shield, near posterior margin. Tips of Cx-I distanced from frontal margin. Number of swimming setae: II-L-5, 2-3, IV-L-5, 3. Palp as shown in Fig. 1D ; P-1 with one dorsal seta; P-2 ventral margin straight, distally forming a blunt projection; P-3 ventral margin concave; P-4 with sexual dimorphism (in female P-4 without a cover of a fine setae on dorsal surface), proximally narrow, in the centre, near the insertion of two setae slightly elevated to form an obtuse projection near the insertion of the stronger ventral seta, a finer seta laterally on a further blunt elevation. Male: IV-L-4 with a prominent digitiform ventral extension apically bearing three short and peg-like setae, IV-L-5 thickened, dorsal margin curved, ventral margin, with scattered, normal setae, in proximal part a peg-like setae.

Male (holotype, in parentheses measurements of paratype, n = 1): Idiosoma L 530 (493), W 416 (381); distance tip Cx-I – gonopore 412 (381); gnathosomal bay L 133 (131); posterior margin of Cx-IV forming a rounded ridge, with a shallow medial indentation, distance between IV-L insertion 215 (210). Gonopore L/W 44/ 38, flanked by acetabula arranged in triangle. Excretory pore and flanking glandularia on dorsal shield, near posterior margin ( Fig. 1A ). Gnathosoma vL 72 (76); chelicera total L 87 (110), palp: L/H, ratio L/H: P-1, 35/16, 2.18 (33/22, 1.5); P-2, 62/45, 1.37 (59/43, 1.36); P-3, 30/25, 1.2 (32/21, 1.54); P-4, 103/28, 3.7 (97/25. 3.8); P-5, 31/10, 3.1 (28/9, 3.1); P-4 dorsal surface with several fine setae. Legs: IV-L-4-6 as shown in Figs. 1E–G ; IV-L-4 with a prominent digitiform ventral extension bearing three apical short and peg-like setae, IV-L-4 L/H 70 (64)/38 (37), ratio 1.8 (1.7); IV-L-5 thickened, dorsal margin curved, ventral margin, with scattered, normal, in proximal part a peg-like setae, IV-L-5 L/H 144 (142)/40 (39), ratio 3.6 (3.6); IV-L-6 slightly curved, ventrally with a line of longer setae, IV-L-6 L/H 113 (110)/26 (23), ratio 4.9 (4.8); claws modified as given in Figs. 1E–G , anterior claw longer than posterior claw.

In addition we give measurements of specimens from Kabataş village suspected to represent female of B. orientalis sp. nov.

Female: Idiosoma L/W 568/445, distance tip Cx-I – gonopore 475; gnathosomal bay L 140; distance between IV-L insertion 244. Excretory pore platelet fused to posterior margin of dorsal shield. Gnathosoma vL 94; chelicera total L 114; palp: L/H (in parentheses ratio): P-1, 35/17 (2.1); P-2, 60/45 (1.3); P-3, 34/26 (1.3); P-4, 94/29 (3.2); P- 5, 32/10 (3.2). IV-L-5 L/H 112/21, ratio 5.3; IV-L-6 110/20, ratio 5.5.

Remarks. Pešiċ et al. (2006) reported the presence of Brachypoda mutila from Turkey (Mezra stream, Malatya province). However, recently Gerecke (pers. comm.), after revision of type material and variability studied on Western Mediterranean populations, stated that the males from this population as well as from the population published under this name from Caucasus ( Tuzovskij 1978, including also the reared larval stage) together represent a different, previously undescribed species. Further, due to the shape and setation of IV-L-4–6, the males from a population described by Boyacı & Özkan (2004) under the name B. mutila from Turkey agree well with above mentioned populations and should be ascribed to the same species, B. orientalis sp. nov.

Males of Brachypoda mutila differ from the new species in the shape of the three apical setae on the ventral digitiform extension of IV-L-4 (one fine, longer seta flanked by two stout setae, one of them thicker than the other), and IV-L-5 more slender, with subparallel dorsal and ventral margins, bearing numerous longer ventral setae. Females of Brachypoda mutila can be distinguished by the excretory pore not fused to the dorsal shield.

Habitat. Pools of running waters.

Distribution. Caucasus (“ Brachypoda mutila ” Tuzovskij 1978 ), Turkey (“ Brachypoda mutila ” Boyacı & Özkan 2004 ; Pešiċ et al. 2006; Esen et al. 2011).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A – G. Brachypoda (Hemibrachypoda) orientalis sp. nov., male (from Malatya Province, holotype A – C, E, G; paratype D, F): A = idiosoma, dorsal view; B = idisoma, ventral view; C = genital field; D = palp, lateral view; E = IV-L, posteriorly; F = IV-L- 4 – 6, posteriorly; G = IV-L- 4 – 6, anteriorly. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 2. A – G. Brachypoda (Hemibrachypoda) orientalis sp. nov., (from Erzincan Province – male A – E; female F-G): A = idiosoma, dorsal view; B = genital field; C = palp, medial view; D = IV-L- 4 – 6, anteriorly; E = IV-L- 4 – 6, posteriorly; F = idiosoma, dorsal view; G = genital field. Scale bars = 100 µm.