Torrenticola ventura Habeeb, 1973

Fisher, J. Ray, Fisher, Danielle M., Skvarla, Michael J., Nelson, Whitney A. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2017, Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species, ZooKeys 701, pp. 1-496 : 1

Torrenticola ventura Habeeb, 1973

Torrenticola ventura Habeeb, 1973: 1.

Material examined.

LECTOTYPE (1 ♀): from USA, California, Ventura County, Upper Ojai, Sisar Canyon, 4 Nov 1973, by H Habeeb, HH730009.

PARALECTOTYPES (1 ♀; 2 ♂): California, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Ventura County, Upper Ojai, Sisar Canyon, 4 Nov 1973, by H Habeeb, HH730009 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ventura County, Upper Ojai, Sisar Canyon, 4 Nov 1973, by H Habeeb, HH730009.

OTHER MATERIAL (30 ♀; 37 ♂): California, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Alpine County, Markleeville Creek (38°41'39"N, 119°46'41"W), 30 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0830-001 • 3 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Humboldt County, Honeydew, Mattole River, beside road to Bull Creek on east side of bridge, 8 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870135A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Los Angeles County, Azusa, San Gabriel Canyon, East Fork of San Gabriel River at East Fork Station, 24 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870108 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Mariposa County, El Portal, Indian Flat campground, Merced River, 9-10 Jun 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760087 • 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Mendocino County, Paul M. Dimmick Recreation Area, North Fork of Navarro River, beside Route 128, 4 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870127A • 3 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Mendocino County, Rancheria Creek, beside Route 128, 7.3 kilometers south of Boonville, 4 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870126A • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Monterey County, Big Sur River, beside Route 1 near Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park, 28-29 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870116A • 1 ♀ from Plumas County, Plumas National Forest, Silver Creek (39°56'60"N, 121°2'17"W), 24 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0824-005 • 2 ♀ and 4 ♂ from Trinity County, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Wilson Creek (40°25'17"N, 123°3'5"W), 20 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0820-003 • 1 ♂ from Trinity County, small cascading trickle beside Route 36, 5.2 kilometers west of Forest Glen Station, 6 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870132 • 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Trinity County, South Fork of Trinity River, beside Route 36 at Forest Glen campground, 6 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870131 • 2 ♀ and 4 ♂ from Trinity County, Trinity River, beside Route 299, 8.7 kilometers northwest of Del Loma, 9 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870137A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Trinity County, Weaver Creek, beside Route 299, 4.3 kilometers north of Route 3 West, 9 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870138A & IMS870138B • 1 ♀ and 4 ♂ from Ventura County, Ojai, North Fork of Ventura River, beside Route 33 just above Wheeler Gorge, 25-26 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870109A & IMS870109B • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ventura County, Ojai, North Fork of Ventura River, beside Route 33, 9.8 kilometers north of Ojai, 25 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870110 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ventura County, Ojai, North Fork of Ventura River just below Wheeler Gorge campground, beside Route 33, 27 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870112 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ventura County, Sespe Creek at Middle Lion campground, off Road 6N31, 26 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870111A • 1 ♀ from Yuba County, Tahoe National Forest, Oregon Creek (39°23'50"N, 121°4'54"W), 25 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0825-006 • Oregon, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Coos County, Gaylord, Coquille Myrtle Grove State Park, Coquille River, 2 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830014 • 1 ♀ from Curry County, Quosatana Creek (42°29'21"N, 124°14'2"W), 14 Aug 2013, JR Fisher, JRF 13-0814-003 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Curry County, Sixes, Sixes River, beside road at mouth of Edson Creek, 4 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830021A.

Type deposition.

Types (2 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola ventura is unlike all other western species by having the following combination of characters: anterio-lateral platelets free (fused to dorsal plate in Rusetria Complex); dorsal coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions (restricted posteriorly in T. tahoei , T. oregonensis , T. raptoroides , and T. sharkeyi , without pattern in T. regalis , colorless in T. occidentalis , Rala Group, T. wiedenmanni ); ellipsoid body (circular in T. sierrensis and T. raptoroides , rectangular in T. ellipsoidalis ); unmodified rostrum (short and conical in T. olliei , T. sierrensis , T. ellipsoidalis and T. leviathan ); tuberculate ventral extensions on pedipalp genua (flanged in Miniforma group); and smaller body size than T. multiforma (dorsum length ♀ = 650-780 in T. ventura , 765-885 in T. multiforma ; ♂ = 540-630 in T. ventura , 725-850 in T. multiforma ). T. ventura are most similar to members of the Neoanomala Group, which are eastern.

Re-description.

Female (Figure 268) (n = 7) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (650-780 long; 470-550 wide) ovoid with bluish-purple coloration (often faint) separated into anterior and posterior portions with orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (145-152.5 long; 57.5-62.5 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (195-227.5 long; 67.5-80 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 355-400). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.34-1.46; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.29-1.42; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.32-2.65; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.70-3.03; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.28-1.57.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (350-397.5 long (ventral); 267-297 long (dorsal); 147.5-167.5 tall) colorless. Rostrum (137.5-155 long; 50-60 wide). Chelicerae (375-415 long) with curved fangs (63-80 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.30-2.47; rostrum length/width 2.58-2.95. Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (47.5-60 long); femur (125-143.75 long); genu (75-82.5 long); tibia (92.5-102.5 long; 25-28.75 wide); tarsus (17.5-25 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.67-1.80; tibia/femur 0.71-0.75; tibia length/width 3.36-3.73.

Venter - (740-910 long; 550-667 wide) often with faint bluish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (175-202.5 long; 87.5-122.5 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (22.5-30 long). Genital plates (170-200 long; 167.5-182.5 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (322-365 long (total); 137-173 long (medial)); Cx-3 (22.5-30 wide); anterior venter 197.5-220 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.49-2.25; anterior venter/genital field length 1.05-1.16; anterior venter length/genital field width 1.08-1.22; anterior venter/medial suture 7.18-8.78.

Male (Figure 269) (n = 7) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (540-630 long; 370-430 wide) ovoid with bluish-purple coloration (often faint) separated into anterior and posterior portions with orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (105-135 long; 47.5-55 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (172.5-197.5 long; 60-62.5 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 280-315). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.43-1.53; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.30-1.38; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.21-2.63; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.76-3.16; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.40-1.64.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (300-332.5 long (ventral); 221.05-247.5 long (dorsal); 106.25-122.5 tall) colorless. Rostrum (120-135 long; 42.5-47.5 wide). Chelicerae (289-340 long) with curved fangs (56-65 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.65-2.93; rostrum length/width 2.67-3.06. Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (40-45 long); femur (106.25-117.5 long); genu (65-72.5 long); tibia (81.25-91.25 long; 23.75-27.5 wide); tarsus (15-21.25 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.62-1.70; tibia/femur 0.74-0.81; tibia length/width 3.32-3.42.

Venter - (650-785 long; 436-500 wide) often with faint bluish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (122.5-162.5 long; 78.75-85 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (97.5-125 long). Genital plates (122.5-142.5 long; 100-112.5 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (263.5-325 long (total); 155-164 long (medial)); Cx-3 (319-357.5 wide); anterior venter (265-305 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.53-1.97; anterior venter/genital field length 2.02-2.25; anterior venter length/genital field width 2.55-2.81; anterior venter/medial suture 2.36-2.72.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Although Habeeb (1973) did not specify an etymology for the specific epithet ( ventura ), it surely refers to the type locality-Ventura River in Ventura County, California.

Distribution.

California and southwest Oregon (Figure 267). T. ventura was previously known only from Ventura County in southwestern California; we extend the range northward.

Remarks.

Our analyses were unable to confidently place Torrenticola ventura phylogenetically. Both analyses place this species at the base of the Raptor Complex, but this relationship was not well-supported. Because of this ambiguity, we refrain from placing this species in a species complex. Furthermore, because of the unique morphology, we are also unable to place this species within an identification group.

All specimens are less than 1% different in COI sequence and are greater than 15% different from sister species. This species hypothesis is supported by biogeography, low COI divergence within the species (0-2%) and high divergence between species (3-15%), and by the morphological characters outlined in the diagnosis.