Scapheremaeus Berlese, 1910

Colloff, Matthew J., 2009, Comparative morphology and species-groups of the oribatid mite genus Scapheremaeus (Acari: Oribatida: Cymbaeremaeidae), with new species from South Australia, Zootaxa 2213, pp. 1-46 : 12

Scapheremaeus Berlese, 1910

Scapheremaeus Berlese, 1910

Type-species: Cymbaeremaeus (Scapheremeus) patella Berlese, 1910 , p. 226.

Mulvius Sellnick, 1918 : Sellnick, 1931, p. 164; Norton, 2006, p. 112.

Diagnosis. Adults of this genus have the following unique combination of character states within the Cymbaeremaeidae : ornamented notogaster with a lenticulus and a complete or incomplete circumdorsal scissure, occasionally reduced. Sensillus typically darkly pigmented, globose, club-shaped apically. Genital and anal apertures not closely adjacent.

Description (Adult). Brachypyline oribatid mites. Notched tutorium absent, but a lateral carina may be present in some species. Lamellar setae setiform, bacilliform and/or darkly pigmented and club-shaped due to cerotegument; lamellar seta associated with lamellar ridge or costula, emerging from well-developed lamellar apophysis. Interlamellar setae setiform or peg-like, represented only by alveoli or absent. Bothridium welldeveloped, not obscured by notogaster in dorsal view; sensillus rounded in cross section; sensillus clavate, smooth or ornamented with spicules, longitudinal pleats or tubercles; often darkly pigmented. Exobothridial setae present or absent. Dorsosejugal suture continuous, convex; notogaster with complete or incomplete circumdorsal scissure, separating centrodorsal plate from dorsal circumnotogastral plate; occasionally scissure reduced so as to be visible only by difference in lateral and centrodorsal microsculpture; rarely absent. Usually 3 pairs of lyrifissurae concentrated posteriorly on circumnotogastral rim (where present); central part of notogaster with microsculpture of tubercles and/or ridges or alveoli, partly cerotegumental in origin. Lenticulus present on notogaster anteriomedially. With typically 10, 14 or 15 pairs of setiform notogastral setae, more rarely 7, 12 or 13 pairs. With or without humeral spines extending ventrally. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-2-2 or rarely 3-1-3-3 (2-1-2-1, 3-1-1-2 are known in individual species). Junction of epimere IV and ventral plate without enantiophyses; caudal margin of venter U-shaped, not V-shaped; genital and anal plates separated by distance equivalent to between that of the width of the genital aperture and half its width; 4, 6 or 7 pairs of genital setae; one pair of aggenital setae; two pairs of anal setae situated on median edge of plates or some distance from median edge; 3 pairs of adanal setae. With triangular pre-anal sclerite. Legs monodactylous or tridactylous.