Scaptognathides heraldensis Otto 2000

Abé, Hiroshi, 2021, Taxonomic review of the subfamily Lohmannellinae (Acari: Trombidiformes Halacaridae) with morphological comparisons among genera, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 201-255 : 225

Scaptognathides heraldensis Otto 2000

Diagnosis. Ds-2 and Ds-3 on AD. OC with 1 Glp. Female with 4 Pgs and 2 Sgs. Male with 21 Pgs and 6 Sgs. Tr I–IV with 1-1-1-1 setae; Bf I–IV with 2-2-2-2 setae; Tf I–IV with 4-4-2-2 setae; Gn I–IV with 4-4-3-3 setae; Tb I–IV with 5-5-5-5 setae; Ta I–IV with 3-3-3-3 dorsal setae. Lc II–IV with distinct comb. Idiosoma length 188–190 in female (holotype 188), 182–198. in male. Gnathosoma length 80–86 in female. Ratio of gnathosoma to idiosoma 0.43–0.45.

Remarks. The characteristics of this species are: foveate dorsal plates, a single Glp on OC, Sgs present in female, and Ta III with 3 dorsal setae. This species resembles S. hawaiiensis , S. australis , and S. tomkinsae in having a single Glp on the OC. S. heraldensis , however, differs from these species in the shape of OC, 2 pairs of Glps on PD, and foveate dorsal plates. Female and male are known.

Habitat. Sublittoral zone: Coarse sands at 5–15 m depth.

Distribution. South Pacific Ocean: 16°57.171’S, 149°12.036’E (Queensland Plateau) [ Australia].

Reference. Otto (2000b).

Depository. QMS, ZIZMH.