Scaptognathides australis Bartsch 1993

Abé, Hiroshi, 2021, Taxonomic review of the subfamily Lohmannellinae (Acari: Trombidiformes Halacaridae) with morphological comparisons among genera, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 201-255 : 224

Scaptognathides australis Bartsch 1993

Diagnosis. Ds-2 and Ds-3 on AD. OC with 2 Glps. Female with 4 Pgs and 0–2 Sgs. Male with 16 Pgs and 6 Sgs. Tr I–IV with 0-0-1-1 setae; Bf I–IV with 2-2-2-2 setae; Tf I–IV with 4-3-2-2 setae; Gn I–IV with 5-4-3-3 setae; Tb I–IV with 5-5-5-5 setae; Ta I–IV with 3-3-4-3 dorsal setae. Lc II–IV with comb. Idiosoma length 150–160 in female (holotype 160), 142–147 in male. Idiosoma width 90 in holotype female. Gnathosoma length 81 in holotype female. Gnathosoma width 67 in holotype female. Ratio of gnathosoma to idiosoma 0.49–0.55.

Remarks. The characteristics of this species are: foveate dorsal plates, OC oblong, a single Glp on OC, and Ta III with 4 dorsal setae.The species differs from congeners by the oblong OC (5–6 times longer than wide). Female and male are known.

Habitat. Littoral zone: Sandy sediment at 2–30 cm depth on upper slope.

Distribution. Indian Ocean: Little Armstrong Bay, Nancy Cove (Rottnest Is.) [ Australia].

References. Bartsch (1993a, 1996b).

Depository. WAMP, NMVM.