Poropodalius hexapennatus Karg, 2000

Castilho, Raphael C., De, Gilberto J. & Halliday, Bruce, 2012, Revision of the genera Interrhodeus, Pennarhodeus and Poropodalius (Acari: Rhodacaridae), Zootaxa 3335, pp. 1-28 : 21-24

Poropodalius hexapennatus Karg, 2000

Poropodalius hexapennatus Karg, 2000a: 252 .

Poropodalius hexapennatus .— Karg & Schorlemmer, 2009: 67.

Specimens examined. Holotype female: 6976 T, Kuba (= Cuba), 1976, Bodenpr . (soil sample) 48, ZMB Kat. Nr. 45932. Paratypes: one male, 6977, Kuba (= Cuba), 1976, Bodenpr . (soils ample) 48, ZMB Kat. Nr. 45933; one male, 6978, Kuba (= Cuba), 1976, Bodenpr . (soil sample) 20–24, ZMB Kat. Nr. 45934; one male, 6979, Kuba (= Cuba), 1977, Bodenpr . (soil sample) 2, ZMB Kat. Nr. 45935. (in MHNB).

Diagnosis (adult female and male). Epistome with smooth antero-lateral projections of about uniform width; setae r3, J4, J5, Z4, Z5, S5 pilose in distal half; other dorsal idiosomal setae smooth; podonotal shield with indistinct roundish markings and four small circular scleronoduli between setae j5 and j6; opisthonotal shield lightly reticulate; pretarsus I, a single, sessile, curved claw. Adult female with sternal shield lightly imbricate; unsclerotised integument between sternal and ventrianal shields with a transverse elongate accessory platelet; ventrianal shield with five pairs of setae (Jv2, Jv3, Jv5, Zv2 and Zv3) in addition to circum-anal setae; peritrematal shield broad and long, extending anteriorly onto the dorsum but not fused to podonotal shield. Adult male with sternogenital shield with indistinct roundish markings; no accessory platelet between sternogenital and ventrianal shields; ventrianal shield with 12 pairs of setae (R1-R5, Jv1-Jv3, Jv5 and Zv1-Zv3) in addition to circum-anal setae; peritrematal shield narrow, not extending beyond peritreme.

Adult female ( Fig. 12 A–E) (holotype). Dorsal idiosomal setae (except r3, J4, J5, Z4, Z5, S5), hypostomal, subcapitular, ventral idiosomal (except post-anal) and leg setae smooth; setae r3, J4-J5, Z4-Z5, S5 and post-anal setae pilose in distal half.

Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 67 long, with five teeth in addition to apical tooth, and a setiform pilus dentilis ( Fig. 12 A); movable cheliceral digit 66 long, with three teeth in addition to apical tooth. Arthrodial process of chelicera with a short coronet-like fringe. Epistome with a smooth antero-medial projection slightly wider at the base and provided with two apical denticles, flanked on each side by a shorter, smooth projection with three apical denticles ( Fig. 12 B); margin of epistome with two denticles between antero-medial and antero-lateral projections and smooth laterad to antero-lateral projections. Deutosternum, hypostomal and subcapitular setae not visible.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 12 C). Podonotal shield with indistinct roundish markings, except for a punctate band along posterior margin; 201 long and 210 wide at widest point; with 22 pairs of setae (seta r1 absent); with four small circular scleronoduli between setae j5 and j6 and five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised integument laterad to podonotal shield with a pair of setae (r4). Opisthonotal shield lightly reticulate, except for a punctate band along anterior margin; 167 long and 180 wide at widest point; with 15 pairs of setae and four pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised integument laterad to opisthonotal shield with five pairs of setae (R1- R5). Measurements of setae: j1 20, j2 20, j3 18, j4 17, j5 16, j6 19, z1 16, z2 18, z3 18, z4 20, z5 19, z6 20, s1 16, s2 18, s3 18, s4 19, s5 20, s6 21, r2 18, r3 25, r4 12, r5 20, r6 22, J1 20, J2 21, J3 22, J4 23, J5 21, Z1 21, Z2 22, Z3 25, Z4 30, Z5 33, S1 20, S2 20, S3 22, S4 26, S5 29, R1 11, R2 11, R3 12, R4 13, R5 12.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 12 D). Base of tritosternum 24 long and 14 wide proximally ( Fig. 12 E); laciniae 62 long, separated for about 90% of their total length, pilose. Sternal shield lightly imbricate and with indistinct anterior margin; region anterior to the first pair of lyrifissures (iv 1) lightly sclerotised and punctate; posterior margin concave; approximately 103 long, including the lightly sclerotised and punctate region, and 96 wide at widest point; with four pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures. Genital shield lightly reticulate, except for a punctate band along straight posterior margin; longer than wide; extending posteriorly behind coxae IV; distance between st 5- st 5 50. Unsclerotised integument between genital and ventrianal shields with a transverse elongate accessory platelet and with setae Jv1 and Zv1. Metapodal plates irregular in shape, with a median constriction on the paraxial margin, containing a circular marking. Ventrianal shield reticulate; 125 long and 152 wide at widest point, not fused to dorsal shield; with five pairs of setae (Jv2, Jv3, Jv5, Zv2 and Zv3) in addition to circum-anal setae and three pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures; post-anal seta as long as para-anal setae. Peritreme extending anteriorly to mid-level of coxa II. Peritrematal shield broad and long, extending anteriorly onto the dorsum but not fused to podonotal shield. Measurements of setae: st1 17, st2 not seen (broken), st3 not seen (broken), st4 not seen (broken), st5 17, Jv1 15, Jv2 not seen (broken), Jv3 20, Jv5 27, Zv1 14, Zv2 16, Zv3 15, para-anal 20, post-anal 22.

Legs. Lengths: I: 332; II: 275; III: 226; IV: 310. Pretarsus I, a single, sessile, curved claw; pretarsi II–IV, an elongate ambulacral stalk, a pair of strong claws and three rounded pulvillar lobes.

Adult male ( Fig. 13 A–C) (three paratypes). Shape of setae as in adult female.

Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 42 long, with two teeth in addition to apical tooth and a setiform pilus dentilis ( Fig. 13 A); movable cheliceral digit 41 long, with three teeth in addition to apical tooth. Spermatodactyl 83 long, abruptly bent dorsally, distal portion approximately parallel to proximal portion and double its length. Arthrodial process of chelicera with a short coronet-like fringe. Epistome as in female. Deutosternum, hypostomal and subcapitular setae not visible.

Dorsal idiosoma. Podonotal shield with indistinct roundish markings, except for a punctate band along posterior margin; 176–192 long and 203–212 wide at widest point; with 22 pairs of setae (seta r1 absent); with four circular scleronoduli between setae j5 and j6 and five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised integument laterad to podonotal shield with a pair of setae (r4). Opisthonotal shield lightly reticulate, except for a punctate band along anterior margin; 168–179 long and 179–187 wide at widest point; with 15 pairs of setae and four pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Setae R1-R5 inserted on ventrianal shield. Measurements of setae: j1 17, j2 17, j 3 16–18, j 4 15–17, j 5 13–15, j6 not seen (broken), z1 14, z 2 14–16, z 3 15–18, z 4 16–18, z 5 14–18, z6 16, s1 14, s 2 16 –18, s3 17, s 4 17 –20, s 5 16 –20, s6 20, r2 16, r 3 21–27, r 4 11–13, r 5 16–18, r 6 20–22, J 1 15–20, J 2 18–20, J 3 14–18, J 4 16–21, J 5 15–18, Z 1 15–21, Z 2 15–21, Z 3 18–22, Z 4 20–26, Z 5 23–28, S 1 15 –20, S 2 17 –20, S 3 18 –22, S 4 20 –24, S 5 21 –25, R 1 8–12, R 2 9–12, R 3 12–14, R 4 10–14, R 5 11–15.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 13 B). Base of tritosternum 17 long and 11 wide proximally; laciniae 51 long, separated for about 90% of their total length, pilose. Sternogenital shield with indistinct roundish markings, indistinct anterior margin and a punctate band along straight posterior margin; region anterior to the first pair of lyrifissures (iv 1) lightly sclerotised and punctate; approximately 136–154 long, including the lightly sclerotised and punctate region, and 73–84 wide at widest point; with five pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures; distance between st 5- st 5 29–37; genital opening on anterior margin of shield. Unsclerotised integument between sternogenital and ventrianal shields without accessory platelet. Ventrianal shield reticulate, except for a punctate band along anterior margin; 135–155 long and 201–230 wide at widest point, not fused to dorsal shield; with 12 pairs of setae (R1-R5, Jv1- Jv3, Jv5 and Zv1-Zv3) in addition to circum-anal setae and three pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures; post-anal seta as long as para-anal setae. Peritreme extending anteriorly to mid-level of coxa II. Peritrematal shield narrow, not extending beyond peritreme. Measurements of setae: st 1 15–16, st 2 14–16, st 3 16–17, st 4 13–15, st 5 13–15, Jv1 15, Jv 2 12–15, Jv 3 13–16, Jv 5 20–23, Zv1 15, Zv 2 11–13, Zv 3 11–14, para-anal 15–20, post-anal 16–21.

Legs. Lengths: I: 311; II: 270; III: 210–235; IV: 265–305. With a spur-like ventral seta on each of femur, genu and tibia II ( Fig. 13 C). Pretarsi as in adult female.

Remarks. This species was described on the basis of the adult female holotype, 12 adult female paratypes and 15 adult male paratypes. The following characteristics appear in the original description and illustrations of the species, but do not agree with our observations of the holotype: epistome with antero-medial projection as long as antero-lateral projections; podonotal shield ornamented with few irregular lines; unsclerotised integument laterad to opisthonotal shield with only two pairs of setae; setae S5 and post-anal smooth and setae j1, r3, J4, J5, Z4, Z5 and Jv5 totally pilose; unsclerotised integument between genital and ventrianal shields with five accessory platelets; unsclerotised integument laterad to ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae; peritrematal shield narrow, not extending beyond peritreme; lyrifissures only on podonotal shield (one pair) and sternal shield (three pairs). No information was provided about the hypostome, tritosternum and leg setal counts. The measurements provided in the original description referred to the length of the idiosoma (310–360), width of idiosoma (170–190), length of setae r3 (cited as r5) (28), J4 (cited as I4) (25), Z4 (28), Z5 (30), range of other dorsal idiosomal setae (18–20), length of all st 17, Jv5 (cited as V8) (25), range of other ventrianal idiosomal setae (16–20), length of legs I (290), II (250), III (230) and IV (310).

For the male paratypes, the only characteristics provided referred to details of the spermatodactyl and ventral setae of femur, genu and tibia II, as well as measurements for the length (270–300) and width (150–190) of the idiosoma.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Poropodalius hexapennatus Karg. Female. A. Lateral (antiaxial) view of chelicera; B. Epistome; C. Dorsal idiosoma; D. Ventral idiosoma; E. Tritosternum. Lyrifissures enlarged for improved visibility.

FIGURE 13. Poropodalius hexapennatus Karg. Male. A. Lateral (antiaxial) view of chelicera; B. Ventral idiosoma; C. Anterolateral view of femur, genu and tibia of leg II. Lyrifissures enlarged for improved visibility.