Zetomotrichus kenyaensis, Mahunka & Mahunka-Papp, 2009

Mahunka, S. & Mahunka-Papp, L., 2009, New and little known oribatids from Kenya, with descriptions of two new genera (Acari: Oribatida), Journal of Natural History 43 (11 - 12), pp. 737-768 : 754-756

Zetomotrichus kenyaensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Rostral part of prodorsum simple, apex rounded medially, divided by two large incisures. Lateral margins without small teeth. Rostral setae thick, well ciliated, other prodorsal setae very thin, simple. Sensillus also thin, setiform, distincly ciliate. Ten pairs comparatively long notogastral setae present, setae c 2 slightly dilated, ciliate. Humeral sac small, hardly visible. Pyriform organ and a pair of glands clearly visible. Epimeral setal formula: 3-1-3-3. Setae 1a much longer than the others. Epimeral setal formula: 4-1-2-3. Lyrifissures iad located very close to anal aperture.

Material examined

Holotype. Kenya, Tana River district, 10 km north of Garsen , 23 October 1977. Leg. V. Mahnert and J.-L. Perret (G-77/31). One paratype from the same sample . Holotype: MHNG, one paratype: (1731-PO-2007): HNHM .

Measurements

Length of body 275–291 Mm, width of body 165–176 Mm.

Prodorsum

Rostrum medially widely rounded, with large lateral incisure. Lateral margin of the prodorsum smooth, without small teeth. Lamellae short, bearing interlamellar setae, rostral and lamellar setae arising also from small tubercles. Rostral setae thicker than the others, and well pilose. Lamellar and interlamellar setae very thin, setiform, nearly smooth. Exobothridial setae very short. Sensillus long, directed outwards, bilaterally ciliate.

Notogaster

Dorsosejugal suture absent. Humeral process large, triangular, bearing setae c 2 that are comparatively narrow, ciliate ( Figure 8A ). Other notogastral setae (nine pairs) simple, very thin and smooth, setae p 1 situated in ventral position. Humeral sac small. Pyriform organ normal in shape, gland large and well framed. Lyrifissure ip very large, ih and ips much smaller. Some pori irregularly present on the surface.

Lateral part of podosoma

Pedotecta small, discidium clearly discernible. Position of the acetabulum IV similar to the type species of the genus.

Ventral parts ( Figure 8B )

Apodemata 2 and ap.sej. discernible, but short. Among the epimeral setae 1a longest, pilose and reaching over the insertion of the infracapitular setae h. Setae 1b and 1c also longer than the other epimeral setae, some of the others minute. Genital aperture smaller than the anal one), both well framed. All setae in this region very short or minute, sometimes only their insertion observable. Lyrifissure iad located near the anterior corner of the anal aperture. Setae ad 3 arising behind them.

Legs

All legs tridactylous and heterodactylous. Tibia of leg I bearing a very long protuberance, both solenidia inserted on it. Leg IV jumping, tarsus tibia and genu with thick, barbed spines.

Remarks

The type of the genus was described by Grandjean (1934, 1954) from Algeria. Coetzee (1993) collected it in South Africa. The new species is well characterized by the smooth rostral margin, the bilaterally ciliate sensillus, the comparatively thin setae c 2, and the position of the lyrifissure iad. On the basis of these characters the new species is distinguished from both earlier known forms (species of this genus?) by the bilaterally ciliate sensillus, the thinner humeral setae and the position of the lyrifissure iad.

Etymology

Named after its origin.

Figures

Figure 8. Zetomotrichus kenyaensis sp. nov. (A) Body in dorsal view, (B) body in ventral view.