Acidoturus parviscutatus, Smit, 2019

Smit, Harry, 2019, New and rare species of hyporheic water mites from New Zealand (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Aturidae, Momoniidae with the description of two new genera, one new subgenus and one new species, Acarologia 59 (3), pp. 364-373 : 367

Acidoturus parviscutatus n. sp.

( Figure 2 A-E)

Zoobank: A686B0DB-F932-43D2-AB6C-B31FAF63B1FE

Material examined — Holotype female, Elliot Creek interstitial dig , Aorere Valley, South Island, New Zealand, 40°49.897’ S 172°28.309’ E, alt. 110 m, 8-1-2019, leg. H. Smit ( NMNZ) . Paratypes: one female, same data as holotype ( RMNH) ; one female, Fifteen Mile Creek , interstitial dig, Aorere Valley, South Island, New Zealand, 40°48.443’ S 172°31.378’ E, alt. 69 m asl, 7-1-2019, leg. H. Smit ( RMNH).

Diagnosis — As for genus, see above.

Description — Female: Idiosoma dorsally 405 (381–389) long (measured till tip of “hood”), ventrally 397 (366-3-77) long and 282 (267–284) wide. Dorsal shield 220 (214–230) long and 160 (156–168) wide, anteromedial dorsal plate 142 (140–150) long and 148 (130–150) wide, posteromedial plate 80 (76–80) long and 98 (82–94) wide. Integument anterodorsally with spine-like structures. Coxae pointed, suture lines indistinct or absent. Cx-I not extending beyond anterior margin of anterior “hood”. A suture line extending from base of Cx-III to lateral idiosoma margin. Gonopore terminal in position, 44 long. Genital field with numerous acetabula, extending onto dorsum. Length of P1-P5: 18, 36, 22, 38, 18. Palp stocky, especially P4; P3 with a relatively long dorsal seta, P4 with one short and one long ventral seta. Length of I-leg-4-6: 36, 40, 48 (till tip of segment). IV-leg-4 with a large ventral extension with a stout seta. Length of IV-leg-4-6: 25, 22, 40 (till tip of segment). IV-leg-2 larger than other segments, suture line of IV-leg-2 and -3 obliterated, IV-leg-4 with a ventral extension. Excretory pore dorsally.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology — Named for the small dorsal shield.

Figures

Figure 2 Acidoturus parviscutatusn. sp., holotype female: A – dorsum; B – venter; C – gnathosoma + palp; D – I-leg-2-6; E – IV-leg-1-6. Scale bars = 50 µm.