Soricilichus kivuensis Fain, 1981

Bochkov, Andre V., Mbalitini, Sylvestre G. & Verheyen, Erik, 2016, Review of the fur-mite genus Soricilichus Fain, 1970 (Acariformes: Chirodiscidae) — symbionts of the African shrews of the subfamily Crocidurinae (Soricomorpha: Soricidae), Zootaxa 4072 (2), pp. 235-253 : 248-249

Soricilichus kivuensis Fain, 1981

( Figs. 11 , 12 )

Soricilichus kivuensis Fain, 1981: 41 , fig. 1; Bochkov 2010: 239.

Diagnosis. Both sexes: setae cp longer than 70 ( Figs. 11 ). Setae c3 and cp situated off sclerotized parts of coxal fields III ( Fig. 11 ). Male: hysteronotal shield with roughly triangular anterior margin ( Fig. 12 A). Adanal sclerite distinctly developed, with large median concavity ( Fig. 12 A). Ventro-lateral membranes of opisthosoma with attenuated, triangular posterior angles ( Fig. 12 A). Female: setae h 2 9–10 long ( Fig. 11 B).

Description. MALE (3 specimens, Figs. 11 A, 12A–C). Body 290–300 long and 95–110 wide in lateral position at level of setal bases cp. Propodonotal shield 40–43 long. Idiosomal dorsum with 16–17 transverse striae. Setae c3 and cp situated off sclerotized parts of coxal fields III. Hysteronotal shield 39–42 long, with roughly triangular anterior margin. Setae d1 situated distinctly anterior to anterior margin of this shield (approximate distance 20). Lengths of idiosomal setae: cp 100–105, c2 and d 2 11–14, and h2 50–55. Aedeagus about 12 long. Adanal sclerite distinctly developed, with large median concavity about 28 deep. Posterior angles of ventro-lateral opisthosomal membranes distinctly attenuated, triangular. Legs III 110–120 long, legs IV 50 –55 long, tarsi III 23– 25 long, tarsi IV 15–17 long. Lengths of solenidia: φ III 45 –50, φ IV 23–27, and σ III 2–3.

FEMALE (1 specimen, supplied by data from description of holotype by Fain (1981), Figs. 11 B, 12D). Body 385 long (360 in holotype) and 100 wide (105) in lateral position at level of setal bases cp. Propodonotal shield 50 long (40). Idiosomal dorsum with 24 transverse striae (27). Setae c3 and cp situated off sclerotized parts of coxal fields III. Lengths of idiosomal setae: cp 75 (90), c2, d2, ps 3 11–12 (11), and h2 90 (75). Legs III and legs IV about 80 long, tarsi III and tarsi IV about 25 long. Lengths of solenidia: φ III 30, φ IV 4, σ III 2–3.

Type material. Holotype female ( MRAC) from unknown host, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: South Kivu, Bukavu. This holotype is probably lost.

Non-type material. 3 males, 1 female ( ZISP AVB 13-0129-028) from Crocidura sp. ( Soricomorpha : Soricidae : Crocidurinae ), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Kivu, Bitale Buloho, 02°12'S, 28°37'E, 27 February 1967, coll. U. Rahm.

Host and distribution. This species was described from a single female (holotype) and several non-type females from an unidentified host of the genus Crocidura from DR of Congo; males remained unknown ( Fain 1981). Among specimens of this series from Crocidura sp. loaned to ZISP, one female and three male specimens were found, which for unknown reasons were not described by A. Fain.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Soricilichus kivuensis Fain, 1981. A—male in lateral view; B—female in lateral view.

FIGURE 12. Soricilichus kivuensis Fain, 1981, details. A—male opisthosoma in lateral view; B—tibia-tarsus III of male in ventral view; C—tibia tarsus IV of male in ventral view; D—leg III of female in ventral view.