Torrenticola interiorensis Fisher & Dowling

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 interiorensis Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♂): from USA, Arkansas, Montgomery County, Caddo Gap, access track off Manfred Road, 0.3 km west of Route 8, 29 Jul 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110037.

PARATYPES (7 ♀; 11 ♂): Arkansas, USA: 1 ♀ (ALLOTYPE) from Montgomery County, Caddo Gap, access track off Manfred Road, 0.3 km west of Route 8, 29 Jul 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110037 • 2 ♂ from Montgomery County, Caddo Gap, access track off Manfred Road, 0.3 km west of Route 8, 29 Jul 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110037 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Newton County, Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, Little Buffalo River, 11 Jul 2012, by TD Edwards, TDE 12-0711-004 • Missouri, USA: 3 ♀ and 5 ♂ from Crawford County, Huzzah Creek, Red Bluff campground, off Road V, east of Davisville, 23 Jul 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110029 • Oklahoma, USA: 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Pushmataha County, Walnut Creek, beside Route 271, south of Albion, 1 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870063A.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♂), allotype (♀), and some paratypes (5 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (2 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola interiorensis are similar to species with similar dorsal patterning, such as the Rusetria 4-Plate Group ( T. dunni , T. glomerabilis , T. kittatinniana , T. pollani , T. rufoalba and T. shubini ), Elongata Group ( T. gorti , T. elongata , and T. reduncarostra ), and T. bondi , T. erectirostra , T. robisoni , T. irapalpa , T. neoanomala , T. racupalpa , T. skvarlai , and T. arktonyx . They can be differentiated from Rusetria 4-Plates and T. skvarlai by having distinct hind coxal margins. T. interiorensis can be differentiated from T. erectirostra , T. robisoni and T. reduncarostra by having a straight, anteriorly-directed rostrum (upturned in T. erectirostra and T. reduncarostra ). T. interiorensis can be differentiated from T. arktonyx by having an unmodified dorsal plate ( T. arktonyx has distinctive longitudinal dark markings on the anterior portion of the dorsal plate). T. interiorensis can be differentiated from T. racupalpa by having less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 3.76-4.22 in T. interiorensis ; 4.44-5.50 in T. racupalpa ) and less elongate rostrum (length/width = 2.63-2.88 in T. interiorensis ; 3.56-3.88 in T. racupalpa ). T. interiorensis can be differentiated from T. irapalpa by having Dgl-4 closer to the dorsal edge (dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 ♀ = 1.48-1.61 in T. interiorensis , 1.81-2.09 in T. irapalpa ; ♂ = 1.42-1.45 in T. interiorensis , 1.58-1.86 in T. irapalpa ) and more ovoid dorsum (length/width ♀ = 1.29-1.38 in T. interiorensis , 1.20-1.28 in T. irapalpa ; ♂ = 1.34-1.47 in T. interiorensis , 1.26-1.30 in T. irapalpa ). T. interiorensis can be differentiated from Elongata Group by being slightly more ovoid (dorsum length/width ♀ = 1.29-1.38 in T. interiorensis , 1.45-2.08 in Elongata Group; ♂ = 1.34-1.47 in T. interiorensis , 1.51-1.7 in Elongata Group) and having a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.63-2.88 in T. interiorensis , 3.24-4.00 in Elongata Group). T. interiorensis can be differentiated from T. bondi by having a longer medial suture (♀ = 25-30 in T. interiorensis , 10-15 in T. bondi ; ♂ = 75-83 in T. interiorensis , 55-70 in T. bondi ), anterior venter/genital field width (♀ = 1.31-1.38 in T. interiorensis , 1.15-1.25 in T. bondi ; ♂ = 2.09-2.27 in T. interiorensis , 1.95-2.05 in T. bondi ), and Dgl-4 closer to edge of dorsum (dorsum width/distance between Dgl-4 ♀ = 1.48-1.61 in T. interiorensis , 1.63-1.72 in T. bondi ; ♂ = 1.42-1.45 in T. interiorensis , 1.48-1.62 in T. bondi ). Female T. interiorensis can be differentiated from female T. neoanomala by having stockier anterio-lateral platelets (length/width = 2.62-2.67 in T. interiorensis , 2.86-3.09 in T. neoanomala ). Male T. interiorensis can be differentiated from male T. neoanomala by having a shorter anterior venter (220-240 in T. interiorensis , 267.5-290 in T. neoanomala ) and a shorter genital field (132-138 in T. interiorensis , 145-160 in T. neoanomala ).

Description.

Male (Figure 100) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (510-545 (510) long; 350-405 (360) wide) ovoid with purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions and orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (115-122.5 (115) long; 45-50 (45) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (150-167.5 (150) long; 50-52.5 (50) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 245-285 (250)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.34-1.47 (1.42); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.42-1.45 (1.44); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.45-2.72 (2.56); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 3.00-3.19 (3.00); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.30-1.37 (1.30).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (265-282.5 (265) long (ventral); 200-212 (200) long (dorsal); 105-112.5 (105) tall) colorless. Rostrum (112.5-115 (112.5) long; 40-40 (40) wide). Chelicerae (260-282 (260) long) with curved fangs (45-58 (45) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.51-2.60 (2.52); rostrum length/width 2.81-2.88 (2.81). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (32.5-37.5 (32.5) long); femur (97.5-105 (97.5) long); genu (55-62.5 (55) long); tibia (77.5-81.25 (77.5) long; 20-21.25 (20) wide); tarsus (17.5-18.75 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.68-1.78 (1.77); tibia/femur 0.77-0.79 (0.79); tibia length/width 3.76-3.88 (3.88).

Venter - (608-660 (640) long; 424-480 (480) wide) mostly colorless with faint purple in areas surrounding coxae. Gnathosomal bay (102.5-137.5 (110) long; 65-85 (75) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (75-82.5 (75) long). Genital plates (132.5-137.5 (132.5) long; 100-107.5 (100) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (231-270 (260) long (total); 123.25-134 (130) long (medial)); Cx-3 (300-338 (315) wide); anterior venter (220-240 (220) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.37-2.12 (1.47); anterior venter/genital field length 1.60-1.80 (1.66); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.09-2.27 (2.20); anterior venter/medial suture 2.73-2.98 (2.93).

Female (Figure 101) (n =5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (550-620 (550) long; 410-480 (415) wide) ovoid with purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions and orange coloration. Anterio-medial platelets (123.75-142.5 (123.75) long; 50-60 (50) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (160-187.5 (160) long; 60-70 (60) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 255-305 (280)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.29-1.38 (1.33); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.48-1.61 (1.48); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.36-2.52 (2.48); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.62-2.68 (2.67); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.21-1.33 (1.29).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (307.5-325 (310) long (ventral); 220-240 (232.5) long (dorsal); 120-130 (120) tall) colorless. Rostrum (122.5-140 (125) long; 45-50 (45) wide). Chelicerae (300-340 (310) long) with curved fangs (50-65 (55) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.44-2.58 (2.58); rostrum length/width 2.63-2.83 (2.78). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (40-45 (40) long); femur (112.5-127.5 (115) long); genu (65-70 (65) long); tibia (85-95 (85) long; 21.25-22.5 (21.25) wide); tarsus (17.5-22.5 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.73-1.82 (1.77); tibia/femur 0.74-0.76 (0.74); tibia length/width 3.78-4.22 (4.00).

Venter - (680-780 (680) long; 470-580 (510) wide) mostly colorless with purple in areas surrounding coxae. Gnathosomal bay (112.5-152.5 (145) long; 70-100 (90) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (25-30 (30) long). Genital plates (155-175 (155) long; 137.5-152.5 (145) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (242-310 (280) long (total); 125-160 (140) long (medial)); Cx-3 (320-390 (350) wide); anterior venter (190-205 (190) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.22-2.07 (1.61); anterior venter/genital field length 1.17-1.23 (1.23); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.31-1.38 (1.31); anterior venter/medial suture 6.33-8.20 (6.33).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( interiorensis ) refers to the Interior Highlands, where this species was found within both major regions (Ozarks and Ouachitas), but not found outside these regions, which suggests it is endemic to the region.

Distribution.

Interior Highlands (Ozarks and Ouachitas), likely endemic (Figure 99).

Remarks.

Torrenticola interiorensis groups with other members of the Raptor Complex with high support and specimens are less than 2% different in COI sequence from each other. In the combined analysis, T. interiorensis groups with the superficially similar T. neoanomala , and specimens from these species are greater than 9% different in COI sequence from each other. Based upon this relationship and their similarity, we place these species in the Neoanomala Identification Group. The Neoanomala Group shares a phylogenetic affinity for members of the similar-looking Erectirostra Group.

This species hypothesis is supported by low COI divergence within the species (0-2%) and high divergence between species (3-15%), and by the morphological characters outlined in the diagnosis.