Aturides Lundblad, 1937

Smith, Ian M., Cook, David R. & Gerecke, Reinhard, 2015, Revision of the status of some genus-level water mite taxa in the families Pionidae Thor, 1900, Aturidae Thor, 1900, and Nudomideopsidae Smith, 1990 (Acari: Hydrachnidiae), Zootaxa 3919 (1), pp. 111-156 : 131

Genus Aturides Lundblad, 1937

Aturides: Cook, 1974a , p. 365, figs. 1616, 1617, 1619, 1621. Aturides: K.O. Viets, 1987 , p. 164.

Aturides: Cook, 1980 , pp. 296–297, figs. 1534, 1535, 1537, 1538.

Diagnosis. Larva: Unknown.

Adults (modified from Cook 1974a): Idiosoma broadly elliptical in shape in males, broadly elliptical or elongate elliptical in shape in females. Idiosomal sclerites with surfaces smooth or finely reticulate. Dorsal and ventral shields separate from one another. Dorsal shield bearing seven pairs of glandularia, six of which are grouped together in posterior region of shield; lacking well-defined longitudinal ridges, with posterior region of shield unmodified in males but constricted, depressed and bearing excretory pore, one pair of setae and one pair of lyrifissures in females. Dorsal furrow apparently bearing three pairs of glandularia, one pair of setae, and four pairs of lyrifissures arranged on six pairs of tiny platelets in males. Fourth coxal plate bearing coxoglandularium II and bearing small projection associated with opening for insertion of fourth leg. Ventral shield bearing a glandularium posteriorly. Genital field terminal and bearing about twenty pairs of acetabula; excretory pore incorporated into dorsal shield; acetabular plates fused with ventral shield with suture lines weakly indicated in males and obliterated in females. Fourth leg of males with distal segments unmodified. Pedipalp with tibia relatively long and slender, about twice as long as genu, and bearing two sessile, slender setae distoventrally.

Type species. Aturus (Subaturus) dentatus Lundblad.

Species included. Aturides dentatus (Lundblad) ( Brazil) , A. aldomus Cook ( Costa Rica).

Distribution. South and Central America.

Discussion. Cook (1974a, 1980) considered Aturides to be a distinct genus and we follow that treatment here.