Acaroceras szerediae, 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 : 752-754

Acaroceras szerediae sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Rostrum conical, with backwards curved, horn-shaped formation. Lamellae very wide, completely covered by the prodorsal surface. Sensillus setiform, directed forwards. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae long setiform or flagellate. Pteromorphae large, their margin serrated. Nine pairs of notogastral setae of varying length. Apodemes weakly developed, only one pair in front of the genital aperture compose a transverse band. Epimeral and ventral surface finely lineate. A pair of oval spots in the anogenital region.

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, paratype: (1733-PO-2007): HNHM .

Measurements

Length of body 233–255 Mm, width of body 166–177 Mm.

Prodorsum

Except the rostrum and the basal part – the whole prodorsal surface covered by overlapping lamellae ( Figure 7A ). Lamellar setae arising also from under the lamellae. Lamellar apices concave, with two lateral teeth of equal length. Rostral and lamellar setae very long, flagellate, both pairs curved inwards. Interlamellar setae situated on the lateral margin of the lamellae, setiform. Sensillus also setiform, directed forwards, its outer margin distinctly, inner margin rarely ciliate.

Notogaster

Dorsosejugal suture nearly straight, with two pairs of small spots. Pteromorphae large, triangular in dorsal view. Nine pairs of notogastral setae present, posteromarginal (p) setae and setae of the inner surface much shorter than the four pairs originating at the lateral part. Among the latter setae c 2 setiform, the others blunt at the tip.

Lateral part of podosoma

Rostral apex beak-shaped, above a large protuberance present. Lateral surface of the prodorsum and even the surface of the pedotecta I ornamented by peculiar, combshaped pattern. Pteromorpha tongue-shaped, with five or six large teeth marginally ( Figure 7C ). Circumpedal carina distinct, but not reaching to the lateral margin of the ventral plate.

Ventral parts ( Figure 7B )

Some fields in the epimeral and ventral plates finely lineate, these lines frame the genital and the anal openings. Apodemes and epimeral borders very weak, only one transverse band observable in front of the genital opening. All epimeral setae short and well ciliated, setae of the inner surface shorter than the lateral ones. Genitoanal setal formula: 6-1-2-3. Anterior median setae of the genital plates longest, anal and adanal setae very short, curved. A pair of obvious spots present between the anal and the genital apertures.

Remarks

On the basis of the form of the lamellae, the notogastral setae and of the ventral characters the new species stands nearest to Acaroceras (Malgoceras) helleri Mahunka, 1993 species [from the drawing in Mahunka (1993) the rostral horn is missing and the lyrifissure iad is not interpreted correctly]. However, the shape of the interlamellar setae, the lamellar apices are completely different as well as the two pairs of aggenital setae which are present in Acaroceras (Malgoceras) helleri .

Etymology

We dedicate the new species to Mrs Cecilia Szeredi-Világi (Kisbodak, Hungary) for her hospitality in Kisbodak and her help during our collecting trips in Kenya.

Figures

Figure 7. Acaroceras szerediae sp. nov. (A) Body in dorsal view, (B) body in ventral view, (C) prodorsum in lateral view.