Nippobodes pseudobrevisetiger, Chen, Jun & Wang, Hui-Fu, 2007

Chen, Jun & Wang, Hui-Fu, 2007, Taxonomic study on the family Nippobodidae (Acari: Oribatida) from China, Zootaxa 1464, pp. 45-63 : 57-59

Nippobodes pseudobrevisetiger sp. nov.

( Figs. 27 –33)

Material examined: Holotype: adult (in alcohol, CG079), CHINA: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Jinxiu County, Shengtang Mt. (23.9°N, 110.1°E), 29 June, 2000, Jun Chen, from litter under broadleaf forest.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ pseudobrevisetiger ” is compounded from Latin for “false” and the species name “ brevisetiger ”, and suggests the similarities with N. brevisetiger .

Diagnosis. Adult. Total length 565Μm; setae ro, le and in distinctly barbed distally. Bases of prodorsal condyles well separated, without bridge-like structure. Humeral condyles covering posterior part of prodorsal condyles. Setae la and lm almost at same level, distance between h1 and h2 (67Μm) shorter than that between lp and h2 (75Μm).

Adult. Measurements: total length 565 Μm, notogastral length 300Μm, notogastral width 365Μm.

Prodorsum. Rostrum round and blunt, relatively long. Setae ro, le and in slender, distinctly barbed distally ( Figs. 27, 29 ); ro inserted on small tubercles on prodorsum; le curved slightly, inserted on tubercles at anterior of lamella; in inserted at posterior of lamella, straight; ro length 160Μm, distance between ro 62Μm, le length 155Μm, distance between le 100Μm, in length 150Μm, distance between in 218Μm. Bothridial seta smooth, strongly curved, sickle-shaped, attenuate, length 165Μm. Tutorium well developed, pointed distally ( Figs.27, 29 ). Pair of condyles arise posterolaterally on prodorsum and extend posteriorly, with small medially protrusions near base, bases well separated, without bridge-like structure ( Fig. 27 ).

Notogaster. Pair of triangular humeral condyles covering posterior of corresponding prodorsal condyles, with triangular apophysis extending anteromedially from medial margin bearing seta c distally ( Fig. 27 ). Ten pairs of notogastral setae present; setae c flagellate, smooth, basal half part directing anterior-medially, distal half part curved posteriorlly. Other notogastral setae thin, short, smooth. Setae la and lm inserted almost at same level ( Fig. 27 ). Setae length: c 157Μm, la 35Μm, lm 30Μm, lp 28Μm, h1 25Μm, h2 23Μm, h3 25Μm, p1 15Μm, p2 15Μm, p3 22Μm. Distances between setae: lm–lp 95Μm, lp–h2 75Μm, lp–h1 90Μm, h1–h2 67Μm, h2–h3 70Μm. Surface of notogaster smooth, a small shallow depression present between la and lm.

Ve nt e r. Seta ad3 inserted almost at same level as anterior margin of anal opening, ad2 inserted anterior of posterior margin of anal opening, ad1 inserted posterior of posterior margin of anal opening ( Fig. 28 ).

Legs. As for family

Immatures. Unknown.

Distribution. CHINA: Guangxi.

Remarks. This species is similar to N. brevisetiger Aoki, 1981 in having short notogastral setae. It differs by: in this species, distal part of setae ro, le and in distinctly barbed, bases of prodorsal condyles without bridge-like structures connecting each other, setae la and lm almost at same level, distances between h1 and h2 (67Μm) shorter than that between lp and h2 (75Μm); in N. brevisetiger , setae ro, le and in smooth, bases of prodorsal condyles with bridge-like structures connecting each other, lm located behind level of la, distance between h1 and h2 distinctly longer than that between lp and h2.

Nippobodes pseudobrevisetiger , tibia and tarsus of legs of adult, all abaxial aspect. 30, leg I; 31,

leg II; 32, leg III; 33, leg IV. Scale bars = 50Μm.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 29. Nippobodes pseudobrevisetiger n. sp., adult. 27, dorsal aspect (legs removed); 28, ventral aspect (legs and mouthparts removed); 29, lateral aspect, part of proterosoma. Scale bars = 200 Μm.