Frontipodopsis (Frontipodopsella) cuspidata, Semenchenko, Ksenia A., 2016

Semenchenko, Ksenia A., 2016, New water mites species (Acariformes: Hydrachnidia) from interstitial waters of the Russian Far East, Zootaxa 4097 (4), pp. 545-556 : 551

Frontipodopsis (Frontipodopsella) cuspidata sp. n.

( Figs 4A–D , 5A–E )

Type series. Holotype: male ( X 44821 /Ar-28), Russia, Primory Territory, Partizansky District, Partizanskay River basin, Tigrovaya River, N 43°11.401’; E 133°12.660’; depth 30 cm below the sediment surface; substrate: cobbles, pebbles, sand; 12.06.2010, leg. K.A. Semenchenko, D.A. Sidorov. Paratypes: 1 male ( X 44855 /Ar-33), 2 females ( X 44856 /Ar-34), same data as holotype. Additional material examined (not included in the type series; not mounted, in Koenike’s fluid): 5 males and 13 females, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. Adults. Ventral shield posteriorly with long pointed projection.

Description. Both sexes. Idiosoma laterally compressed ( Fig. 4A ). Dorsum ( Fig. 4B ) with medial strip of unsclerotised integument bearing anterior sclerite with Oi and three slender platelets; dorsal furrow with three pairs of slit organs (two anterior of which fused with glandularia platelets). Opening for insertion of fourth legs rounded, located in anterior one-third of idiosoma, without condyles; insertions of other legs at anterior end of body. Anterior part of idiosoma reticulated. Median suture line between Cx-IV absent. Ventral shield posteriorly with a pointed projection. Genital field fused with secondary sclerotization, with three pairs of acetabula and 10–14 pairs of thin setae in males ( Fig. 4C ) and 7–10 in females ( Fig. 4D ). Distance between second and third acetabula subequal to length of second acetabula or slightly longer, but may be shorter (in males). Male’s ejaculatory complex as illustrated on Fig. 5A . Excretory pore free in dorsal furrow. P-1 ( Fig. 5B ) with one dorsodistal seta; P-2 with three dorsoproximal setae and two dorsodistal ones; P-3 with two dorsodistal setae; P-4 with two ventral setae and short distoventral spine. II-Leg-5 and III-Leg-5 with two swimming setae ( Figs 5C, D ). Leg IV modified, segments as illustrated in Fig. 5E .

Male. Measurements (n=2). Idiosoma L 429–430, H 260–265; ventral shield L 376–390, H 220–231; genital field L 92–100; ejaculatory complex L 90–120; length of genital acetabula (Ac. 1–3): 22–29, 26–27, 18–20; gnathosoma vL 86–96; pedipalpal segments (P–1–5) L: 20–24, 48–53, 26–27, 48–51, 22–24; leg segments L: I– Leg– 1–6—30–32, 48–51, 43–44, 49–50, 67–68, 78–79; II–Leg– 1–6—36 –39, 51–54, 41–43, 50–51, 65–67, 80–86; III–Leg– 1–6—35 –37, 51–56, 38–43, 54–56, 73–75, 82–86; IV–Leg–1–6—103–110, 51–?, 72–73, 79–89, 95–99, 72–73.

Female. Measurements (n=2). Idiosoma L 449–482, H 294–306; ventral shield L 396–429, H 264–270; genital field L 125–132; length of genital acetabula (Ac. 1–3): 27–31, 23–30, 22–23; gnathosoma vL 108–?; pedipalpal segments (P–1–5) L: 22–27, 55–56, 30–32, 49–54, 24–25; leg segments L: I–Leg– 1–6—34 –35, 55–56, 42–43, 51– 54, 67–70, 75–77; II–Leg– 1–6—38 –40, 59–60, 40–46, 51–62, 70–81, 84–86; III–Leg– 1–6—40 –43, 56–59, 44–46, 59–60, 81–82, 83–87; IV–Leg–1–6—121–124, 54–59, 80–81, 94–97, 92–94, 75–76.

Differential diagnosis. The present species is similar to F. reticulatifrons Szalay, 1945 , with its four subspecies: F. r. reticulatifrons Szalay, 1945 ; F. r. okinawaensis Imamura, 1957 ; F. r. i nd i c u s Cook, 1967; F. r. persica Schwoerbel & Sepasgosarian, 1980. The new species is most similar to the first two subspecies due to the proportions of idiosoma (see table with comparison of the subspecies on the base of these parameters in Schwoerbel & Sepasgosarian 1980). Frontipodopsis cuspidata sp. n. differs from all known species of the genus in having a pointed projection of the posterior part of the ventral shield, while in other species it is absent or slightly visible, as in Frontipodopsis nearctica Cook, 1963 .

Etymology. The species epithet “ cuspidata ” is derived from the pointed projection of posterior part of the ventral shield.

Distribution. Primory Territory, Far East of Russia.

Figures

FIGURE 4 A – D. Frontipodopsis cuspidata sp. n., A – C—male; D—female: A. Holotype, lateral view. B. Not mounted specimen, dorsal view. C. Not mounted specimen, ventral view. D. Not mounted specimen, genital field. Scale bar = 100 Μm.

FIGURE 5 A – E. Frontipodopsis cuspidata sp. n., male holotype: A. Ejaculatory complex, anteriolateral view. B. Pedipalp, lateral view. C. II-Leg- 4 – 6. D. III-Leg- 4 – 6. E. Leg IV. Scale bars = 25 Μm.