Nippobodes peniculatus, 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 : 55-57

Nippobodes peniculatus sp. nov.

( Figs. 23–26 , 38–39 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult (in alcohol, W-90-65), CHINA: Fujian Province: Jiangle County, Longxi Mt. (26.5°N, 117.2°E), Shejiaping, 11 Sept., 1990, Hui-Fu Wang, from litter under forest. Paratypes: 1 adult (in alcohol, W-90-64), CHINA: Fujian Province: Jiangle County, Longxi Mt. (26.5°N, 117.2°E), Shejiaping, 11 Sept., 1990, Hui-Fu Wang, from moss; 1 adult (in alcohol, W-90-87), CHINA: Fujian Province: Jiangle County, Longxi Mt. (26.5°N, 117.2°E), Shaxizi, 19 Sept., 1990, Hui-Fu Wang, from litter under bamboo; 1 adults (in alcohol, W-91-6), CHINA: Fujian Province: Jiangle County, Longxi Mt. (26.5°N, 117.2°E), 26 June, 1991, Xiao-Mei Zhang; 1 adult (in alcohol, W-91-11), CHINA: Fujian Province: Jiangle County, Longxi Mt. (26.5°N, 117.2°E), 18–20 May, 1991, Hong Liu; 1 adult (in alcohol, W-89-68), CHINA: Fujian Province: Liancheng County, Quxi (25.6°N, 116.9°E), Meihua Mt., 24 May, 1989, Yun-Qi Cui, from litter; 1 adult (in alcohol, Li-95-1), CHINA: Anhui Province: Xiuning County, Qiyun Mt. (29.8°N, 118.0°E), 23 Oct., 1995, Qing-Tian Li.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ peniculatus ” is from the Latin for “tufted tip of a hair” and refers to the shape of most dorsal setae of this species.

Diagnosis. Adult. Total length 595–730Μm. Setae ro thin and long, smooth; setae le and in smooth proximally, strongly barbed distally. Tutorium pointed distally. Humeral condyles covering posterior part of corresponding prodorsal condyles. Ten pairs of notogastral setae present, thick; setae c flagellate, smooth and curved, other notogastral setae relatively short, smooth proximally, strongly barbed distally; la and lm inserted almost at same level. Notogaster ornamented with small tubercles.

Adult. Measurements: total length 647 Μm (range 595–730), notogastral length 414Μm (range 355–460), notogastral width 427Μm (range 380–495).

Prodorsum. Rostrum round and blunt, protruding dorsally. Setae ro curved slightly, thin, long, smooth and inserted on small tubercles on prodorsum; curved transverse ridge connecting tubercles; le and in inserted on tubercles at anterior and posterior of lamella, respectively, setae straight, smooth proximally, strongly barbed distally ( Fig. 23 ); ro length 180Μm, distance between ro 75Μm, le length 145Μm, distance between le 110Μm, in length 167Μm, distance between in 257Μm. Bothridial seta curved strongly, sickle-shaped, attenuate, length 172Μm. Tutorium well developed, tip sharp. Pair of condyles arise posterolaterally on prodorsum and extend posteriorly.

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. 23 ). Notogaster ornamented with small tubercles. Ten pairs of notogastral setae present, thick; setae c flagellate, smooth, basal half directing anteromedially, distal half curved posteriorly; other notogastral setae relatively short, smooth proximally, strongly barbed distally ( Figs. 23 , 39 ); setae la and lm inserted almost at same level ( Fig. 23 ). Setae length: c 175Μm, la 107Μm, lm 88Μm, lp 97Μm, h1 90Μm, h2 90Μm, h3 77Μm, p1 52Μm, p2 87Μm, p3 94Μm.

Ve nt e r. Setae ad3 inserted almost at same level as anterior margin of anal opening, ad2 inserted anterior of level of posterior margin of anal opening, ad1 inserted posterior of posterior margin of anal opening ( Fig. 24 ).

Legs. As for family.

Immatures. Unknown.

Distribution. CHINA: Fujian, Anhui.

Remarks. This species is easily distinguished from other known species of this genus by: prodorsal and notogastral setae other than ro, bo and c smooth proximally, strongly barbed distally; setae c flagellate, smooth and curved; notogaster ornamented with small tubercles.

Figures

FIGURES 23 – 26. Nippobodes peniculatus sp. nov., adult. 23, dorsal aspect (legs removed); 24, ventral aspect (legs and mouthparts removed); 25, genu of leg II, adaxial aspect; 26, tibia, genu and femur of leg III, abaxial aspect. Scale bars: 23 – 24 = 200 Μm, 25 = 20 Μm, 26 = 50 Μm.

FIGURES 36 – 39. Digital pictures of Nippobodes species, adults. 36 – 37: N. flagellifer (36, anterior part of notogaster; 37, posterior part of notogaster); 38 – 39: N. peniculatus (38, genu of leg II; 39, lateral part of notogaster).