Carabodes chirstlus, Mahunka, S., 1987

Mahunka, S., 1987, A survey of the family Carabodidae C. L. Koch, 1836 (Acari: Oribatida), II, Acta Zoologica Hungarica 33, pp. 399-434 : 418-421

Carabodes chirstlus sp. n.

Measurements. - Length: 500-566 µm, width: 311-360 µm.

Prodorsum: Lamellae wide, lamellar setae arising laterally, thick and pilose, rostral setae thin but slightly longer than the preceding ones. Two large elevations present in the interlamellar region, their posterior margin divided into two. Basal part of prodorsum excavated (Fig. 51). Surface of elevations and median part of interlamellar region ornamented by polygonal sculpture (Fig. 46). Interlamellar setae phylliform, spiculate. Sensillus slightly fusiform, bent backwards.

Notogaster: Surface with a characteristic polygonate sculpture. Fields ornamented also by small tubercles. Ten pairs of phylliform notogastral setae present, four pairs (p1, p2, p3, h3) shorter than the others (Fig. 46). All setae well spiculate (Fig. 47).

Coxisternal region: Epimeral borders well visible, the whole surfaee alveolate. All epimeral setae - excepting 3c and 4c - sbort, mostly spiniform.

Anogenital region: Genital and aggenital setae very long, all other setae in this region short or minute. Surfaee ornamented by alveoli and ribs, some longitudinal ribs well observable along genital aperture. A median field in front of anal aperture smooth. Surfaee of genital and anal plates foveolate (Fig. 48).

Legs: Setae u on tarsi short, spinoform. Outer setae (l") (Fig. 50) shorter than l'.

Type-material: Holotype ( 1199-HO-87 ): Tunisia, No. 37-3. Environs of Ain Draham , 31 March, 1977. Berlese- and Tardigrada-samples from Quercus suber and Q. libanotis forests: Moss from perpendicular cliff wall. Leg. S. Mahunka ; 3 paratypes: from the same sample ; 6 paratypes Tunisia, No. 37-2. Environs of Ain Draham , 31 March 1977. Berlese- and Tardigrada-samples from Quercus suber and Q. libanotis forests: moss from the ground with the underlying soil. Leg. S. Mahunka . Holotype and 8 paratypes (1199-PO-87) deposited in the HNHM, 1 paratype in MHNG.

Remarks: The new species belongs to the marginatus-group and Stands near to Carabodes marginatus (Michael, 1884), C. ornatus Storkan , 1925, C. quadrangulus Bernini, 1979 and C. montanus Bernini , 1979. Prodorsal elevations absent from C. marginatus and C. ornatus but present in the other species. The latter ones are distinguished from the new species by the following key: