Leobodes carinatus, 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 : 48-50

Leobodes carinatus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–4 , 13–15 )

Leobodes mirabilis: sensu Wang, Hu & Yin, 2000 , p. 258 (misidentified); Wang, Wen & Chen, 2002, p. 126.

Material examined: Holotype: adult (mounted on slide), CHINA: Xizang Autonomous Region: Mêdog County (29.2°N, 95.3°E), 20 Jan., 1983, Yan-Heng Han.

Etymology. This specific epithet “ carinatus ” is from the Latin for “ridged” and refers to the ridged notogaster of this species.

Diagnosis. Adult. Total length 645Μm. Prodorsal setae smooth; transverse ridge connecting insertions of le indented medially. Distance between intersections of inner margins of prodosal and notogastral condyles distinctly longer than that between insertions of notogastral seta c, and longer than vertical distance between intersection of posterior margins of prodorsal condyles and anterior margin of notogaster. Ten pairs of notogastral setae present, thick, long, smooth and tapered; setae lm and la inserted almost at same level. Notogaster with distinct irregular longitudinal ridges.

Adult. Measurements: total length 645Μm, notogastral length 400Μm, notogastral width 450Μm.

Prodorsum. Prodorsal setae smooth. Setae ro and le curved distinctly, in almost straight; ro inserted dorsally on prodorsum; le inserted anteriorly on lamella, arched transverse ridge (trl) connecting their insertions, ridge indented medially ( Figs. 1, 3 , 15 ); in inserted near lateral margin of prodorsum; ro length 145Μm, distance between ro 90Μm, le length 170Μm, distance between le 120Μm, in length 160Μm, distance between in 255Μm. Bothridial seta curved, weakly swollen in middle portion, slender in distal portion, length 170Μm. Tutorium well developed, pointed distally. Pair of plate-shaped prodorsal condyles located posterolaterally, and extended anteromedially to interlock medially ( Figs. 1, 3 , 14 ).

Notogaster. Pair of large triangular humeral condyles present and interlocking with prodorsal condyles ( Figs. 1, 3 ). Area circumscribed by inner margin of condyles concave and approximately hexagon-shaped ( Figs. 1 , 14 ). Distance between intersections of inner margins of prodosal and humeral condyles (DIPN) distinctly longer than that between insertions of notogastral seta c, and longer than vertical distance between intersection of posterior margins of prodorsal condyles and anterior margin of notogaster (DVPN) ( Fig. 1, 3 , 14 ). Notogaster with distinct irregular longitudinal ridges ( Figs. 1 , 13 ). Ten pairs of notogastral setae present, thick, long, smooth and tapered; setae c and lm directed anteromedially, others directed posteriorly; c inserted at intersections of inner margin of notogastral condyles and anterior margin of notogaster, setae lm and la inserted almost at same level ( Fig. 1 ). Setae length: c 120Μm, la 130Μm, lm 125Μm, lp 148Μm, h1 113Μm, h2 130Μm, h3 100Μm, p1 110Μm, p2 117Μm, p3 113Μm.

Ve nt e r. Setae ad3 and ad2 inserted almost at same level as anterior and posterior margin of anal opening, respectively, ad1 inserted posterior to posterior margin of anal opening ( Fig. 2 ).

Legs. As for family.

Immatures. Unknown.

Distribution. CHINA: Xizang.

Remarks. This species is similar to L. mirabilis Aoki, 1965 , and L. praeconcavus sp. nov. in having following characters: prodorsal condyles thick and massive, not forming a large ring, setae c curved, other notogastral setae pointed at tip. It differs from L. mirabilis by: in L. carinatus , distance between intersections of inner margins of prodosal and humeral condyles distinctly longer than that between insertions of notogastral seta c, and longer than vertical distance between intersection of posterior margins of prodorsal condyles and anterior margin of notogaster, notogaster with distinct irregular longitudinal ridges, notogastral seta lm and la inserted almost at same level; in L. mirabilis , distance between intersections of inner margins of prodosal and humeral condyles almost same length as that between insertions of notogastral seta c, and clearly shorter than vertical distance between intersection of posterior margins of prodorsal condyles and anterior margin of notogaster, notogaster with “weak strip or wrinkle (schwache Leisten oder Runzein)”, notogastral seta lm inserted behind level of la. It differs from L. praeconcavus by: in L. carinatus , prodorsal setae smooth, transverse ridge connecting insertions of le strongly indented medially, anterior margin of prodorsal condyles gently arched, notogaster with distinct irregular longitudinal ridges; in L. praeconcavus , prodorsal setae ro, le and in slightly barbed distally, arched transverse ridge connecting insertions of le not indented medially, anterior margin of prodorsal condyles strongly concave medially, almost U-shaped, surface of notogaster smooth.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Leobodes carinatus sp. nov., adult. 1, dorsal aspect (legs removed); 2, ventral aspect (legs and mouthparts removed); 3, dorsal aspect of prodosal and notogastral condyles; 4, genu of leg II, adaxial aspect. Scale bars: 1 – 3 = 200 mm, 4 = 20 mm.

FIGURES 13 – 17. Digital pictures of Leobodes species, adults. 13 – 15, L. carinatus (13, part of notogaster; 14, proterosoma; 15, anterior part of prodorsum); 16 – 17, L. praeconcavus (16, proterosoma; 17, whole body).