Torrenticola manni Fisher & Dowling

Fisher, J. Ray, Fisher, Danielle M., Skvarla, Michael J., Nelson, Whitney A. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2017, Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species, ZooKeys 701, pp. 1-496 : 1

Torrenticola manni Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, New Mexico Catron County, Whitewater Creek, Glenwood Whitewater Picnic Area, 5 May 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120005, DNA 2906.

PARATYPES (2 ♀; 4 ♂): New Mexico, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Catron County, Whitewater Creek, Glenwood Whitewater Picnic Area, 5 May 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120005, DNA 2907 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Catron County, Whitewater Creek, Glenwood Whitewater Picnic Area, 5 May 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120005 • 1 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Catron County, Whitewater Creek, Glenwood Whitewater Picnic Area, 12 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870084.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (1 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (1 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola manni are similar to members of the Miniforma group ( T. copipalpa , T. miniforma , T. pacificensis , T. rockyensis , T. oliveri , and T. pinocchio ) in having short, stocky pedipalps (except T. oliveri and T. pinocchio ); similar pedipalpal extensions (unique to members of this group); and being among the smallest Torrenticola in the west (dorsum 500-625 long) (except T. oliveri ). T. manni can be differentiated from all other Miniforma group by being from the southwest (all others are from the northwest or Rocky Mountains). T. manni are best differentiated from T. rockyensis by having more elongate pedipalp tibiae (length/width = 3.13-3.38 in T. manni , 2.47-3.11 in T. rockyensis ). T. manni are best differentiated from T. copipalpa by having tuberculate pedipalp femoral extensions (broad and flat in T. copipalpa ). T. manni are best differentiated from T. pacificensis by having more elongate tibiae (length/width = 3.24-3.38 in T. manni , 2.67-3.00 in T. pacificensis ); having more elongate subcapitular rostra (length/width ♀ = 3.00-3.13 in T. manni , 2.59-2.68 in T. pacificensis ; ♂ = 3.13-3.20 in T. manni , 2.76-3.07 in T. pacificensis ). T. manni are best differentiated from T. miniforma by being larger (dorsum length ♀ = 565-620 in T. manni , 545 in T. miniforma ; ♂ = 535-550 in T. manni , 485 in T. miniforma ) and having more elongate pedipalp tibiae (length/width = 3.13-3.38 in T. manni , 2.38-2.88 in T. miniforma ). T. manni can be differentiated from T. oliveri by having a shorter anterior venter (192-230 in T. manni , 250-310 in T. oliveri ) and less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 3.13-3.38 in T. manni , 3.68-4.13 in T. oliveri ). T. manni can be differentiated from T. pinocchio by having a less elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.0-3.2 in T. manni , 4.5-4.9 in T. pinocchio ) and a more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.25-1.36 in T. manni , 1.53-1.64 in T. pinocchio ).

Description.

Female (Figure 141) (n = 3) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (565-620 (620) long; 390-450 (450) wide) ovoid with faint purple coloration restricted posteriorly. Anterio-medial platelets (110-125 (125) long; 52.5-56.25 (56.25) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (170-182.5 (182.5) long; 62.5-70 (70) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 295-335 (335)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.38-1.45 (1.38); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.32-1.36 (1.34); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.10-2.22 (2.22); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.61-2.81 (2.61); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.46-1.55 (1.46).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (305-337.5 (337.5) long (ventral); 225-255 (255) long (dorsal); 110-121.25 (121.25) tall) colorless. Rostrum (125-140 (140) long; 40-45 (45) wide). Chelicerae (305-332 (332) long) with curved fangs (50-64 (57) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.77-2.82 (2.78); rostrum length/width 3.00-3.11 (3.11). Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) with broadly tuberculate ventral extensions with dentate tip on femora and dentate, flanged ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (30-35 (35) long); femur (95-102.5 (102.5) long); genu (65-72.5 (72.5) long); tibia (62.5-70 (68.75) long; 20-21.25 (21.25) wide); tarsus (15-16.25 (16.25) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.41-1.46 (1.41); tibia/femur 0.66-0.68 (0.67); tibia length/width 3.13-3.29 (3.24).

Venter - (700-780 (780) long; 458-477 (477) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (142.5-150 (150) long; 60-70 (70) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (45-50 (45) long). Genital plates (180-192.5 (192.5) long; 160-180 (180) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (255-281 (275) long (total); 120-134 (131) long (medial)); Cx-3 (290-307 (307) wide); anterior venter (192.5-202.5 (202.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.11-2.38 (2.14); anterior venter/genital field length 1.05-1.07 (1.05); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.13-1.23 (1.13); anterior venter/medial suture 3.85-4.50 (4.50).

Male (Figure 142) (n = 4) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available)) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (535-550 (545) long; 375-400 (390) wide) ovoid with faint purple coloration restricted posteriorly. Anterio-medial platelets (105-112.5 (112.5) long; 50-52.5 (52.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (157.5-175 (167.5) long; 62.5-65 (65) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 300-305 (305)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.34-1.47 (1.40); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.25-1.33 (1.28); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.00-2.15 (2.14); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.52-2.80 (2.58); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.49-1.58 (1.49).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (290-305 (297.5) long (ventral); 220-230 (227.5) long (dorsal); 100-110 (107.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (120-127.5 (127.5) long; 37.5-40 (40) wide). Chelicerae (285-305 (300) long) with curved fangs (45-50 (46) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.73-2.90 (2.77); rostrum length/width 3.13-3.20 (3.19). Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) with broadly tuberculate ventral extensions with dentate tip on femora and dentate, flanged ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (27.5-32.5 (32.5) long); femur (87.5-97.5 (92.5) long); genu (60-65 (65) long); tibia (62.5-67.5 (67.5) long; 18.75-20 (20) wide); tarsus (13.75-15 (15) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.40-1.50 (1.42); tibia/femur 0.65-0.73 (0.73); tibia length/width 3.19-3.38 (3.38).

Venter - (665-695 (695) long; 424.75-490 (424.75) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (115-147.5 (140) long; 55-62.5 (62.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (87.5-90 (87.5) long). Genital plates (140-150 (150) long; 112.5-116.25 (116.25) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (240-272 (272) long (total); 115-125 (122) long (medial)); Cx-3 (275-315 (278) wide); anterior venter (220-230 (230) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.92-2.68 (2.24); anterior venter/genital field length 1.52-1.58 (1.53); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.91-1.98 (1.98); anterior venter/medial suture 2.44-2.63 (2.63).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( manni ) named in honor of author Charles Mann, whose books about the peopling of North America (e.g., 1491, 1493) breach history and venture into human ecology. They are an inspiration to confronting misconceptions and a reminder that even seemingly well-known history, whether archeological or evolutionary, is in fact usually not well-known. His books are a battle cry to never cease learning and to always question.

Distribution.

Known only from Catron County, New Mexico (Figure 140).

Remarks.

Torrenticola manni groups with other members of the Miniforma Complex with high support and specimens of this species are less than 1% different in COI sequence from each other. In all analyses, T. manni groups with three other morphologically-similar species with high support: T. pacificensis , T. copipalpa , and T. rockyensis . These species are greater than 4% different from each other in COI sequence. These four species show a higher degree of biogeographic partitioning than most Torrenticola .

Based upon overall similarity, the pedipalp genu extensions, and western distribution, we were able to place this species in the Miniforma Identification Group.

This species hypothesis is supported by non-overlapping distribution, low COI divergence within the species (0-2%) and high divergence between species (3-15%), and by the morphological characters outlined in the diagnosis.