Albaxona elongata, Smit, 2016

Smit, H., 2016, The water mite family Aturidae Thor, 1900 from Southeast Asia (Acari: Hydrachnidia) with the description of one new genus and 14 new species, Acarologia 56 (3), pp. 341-365 : 342-343

Albaxona elongata n. sp.

( Figure 1 )

Material examined — Holotype female, Lam Takhong Creek , Khao Yai NP, Thailand, 14°27’N 101°21’E, 10-xi-2007.

Diagnosis — Small size (L/W 348/251), acetabulum 2 lying directly posterior to acetabulum 1.

Description — Female: Idiosoma yellowish, dorsally 332 long and 251 wide, ventrally 348 long. Dorsal shield 323 long and 200 wide, with four pairs of glandularia; postocularia lying anteriorly of dgl- 1. A2 not fused with dorsal shield. Cx-I and -II pointed, Cx-III more rounded; coxal suture lines obliterated. Cxgl-4 lying halfway between fourth leg sockets and genital field. Genital field 124 wide, with three acetabula on the right side and two acetabula on the left side. Acetabulum 2 lying directly posterior to acetabulum 1. Vgl-4 not fused with ventral shield. Excretory pore on a small platelet posterior to and not fused with postgenital sclerite. Length of P1-5: 19, 36, 27, 51, 24. Length of I-leg- 4-6: -, 58, 60. Length of IV-leg-4-6: 62, 70, 58. Legs without swimming setae. Male: Unknown.

Etymology — Named for its slender idiosoma.

Remarks — The lack of one acetabulum is a phenomenon observed in other aturid genera as well, e.g. in Javalbia ( Smit and Peši´c 2014). However, it may be expected that normally three pairs will be present in a configuration as shown in the right side of the genital field. Due to its small size and the configuration of the acetabula, the new species is most close to Albaxona hexapora ( Viets, 1935) from Java. However, the new species is more slender, L/W of the idiosoma is 1,26 in A. hexapora and 1,32 in the new species. Albaxona kurtvietsi Gledhill and Wiles, 1997 from Sri Lanka is another small species. This species has the acetabula lying in a line and the postocularia are lying closer to dgl-1 compared to the new species.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Albaxonona elongata n. sp., holotype female: A – dorsum; B – venter; C – palp. Scale bars = 50 µm.