Guineaxonopsis tasmanica, Pesic, Vladimir & Smit, Harry, 2009

Pesic, Vladimir & Smit, Harry, 2009, New records of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Tasmania, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 2070, pp. 53-62 : 59-61

Guineaxonopsis tasmanica sp. nov.

( Figs. 19–26 )

Type series. Holotype: male ( TMAG G5895), dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer's fluid. Tasmania, Marakoopa Cave, stream coming from cave, near Mole Creek, gravel bottom with little or no vegetation, temperature 9 °C, 41°34.654΄S 146°17.245΄E, 10 September 2007, leg. Karanović.

Diagnosis. Lateral edges of the ventral shield without projections; P-3 without ventral projection, P-4 actually expanded towards distal end to form a somewhat uncate palp.

Description. Male: Dorsal shield ( Fig. 19 ) L/W 331/256; ventral shield ( Fig. 20 ) L/W 397/297; suture lines of Cx-4 Y-shaped; openings for insertion of the fourth legs shifted medially and without associated projections; posterior suture lines of the fourth coxal plates slightly indicated; lateral margins of the ventral shield without projections; Cxgl-2 placed near suture lines of the fourth coxal plates; genital field with three pairs of acetabula, these arranged in two closely located anterior pairs which are well removed from posterior acetabula. Palp ( Figs. 21-22 ) total L 124, dorsal L and %L (in parentheses): P-1 17 (13.7), P-2 41 (33.1), P-3 20 (16.1), P-4 30 (24.2), P-5 16 (12.9); L P-2/P-4 ratio 1.37; hyaline projection of ventral side of P-2 broad and serrate; P-4 actually expanded towards distal end; capitulum ventral L 65. Lengths of I-Leg-1–6 ( Fig. 23 ): 38, 38, 38, 47, 79; II-Leg-1–6 ( Fig. 24 ): 39, 45, 38, 44, 53, 83; III-Leg-2–6 ( Fig. 25 ): 36, 32, 38, 62, 89; IV- Leg-1–6 ( Fig. 26 ): 86, 47, 49, 65, 86, 100; swimming setae absent.

Female: unknown.

Remarks. Due to the lacking of projections on the ventral shield, and absence of ventral projection on P- 3, the new species resemble Guineaxonopsis australica Cook, 1986 , known from the interstitial waters of the Little Florentine River in Tasmania ( Cook 1986). Guineaxonopsis australica can easily be distinguished from the new species in the presence of the long, narrow setal tubercle on the ventral side of P-4, and two or three lobed, hyaline projections located on ventral side of P-4 between tubercle and distal end of segments (P-4 actually expanded towards distal end to form a somewhat uncate palp in G. tasmanica sp. nov.) Etymology. The species is named after the state of the type locality.

Distribution. Tasmania; known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 22. Guineaxonopsis tasmanica sp. nov., male: 19 = dorsal shield; 20 = idiosoma, ventral view; 21 – 22 = palp. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURES 23 – 26. Guineaxonopsis tasmanica sp. nov., male: 23 = I-Leg; 24 = II-Leg; 25 = III-Leg- 2 – 6; 26 = IV-Leg. Scale bar = 100 µm.