Tubophorella paluma, Smit, 2022

Smit, Harry, 2022, New records of water mites of the family Limnesiidae Thor from Australia (Acari: Hydrachnidia), with the description of seven new species, Acarologia 62 (1), pp. 193-222 : 218

Tubophorella paluma sp. nov.

Zoobank: 29EF3E83-6BF3-463F-A508-B50FC70727A4

( Figure 9 A-F)

Material examined — Holotype male, Waterview Creek at entrance of Paluma Range National Park, Queensland, Australia, 18°51.128′ S 146°07.506′ E, 56 m a.s.l., 12 Nov. 2014 ( QM) . Paratype: One female, Big Crystal Creek at Paradise Pool, Paluma Range NP, Queensland, Australia, 18°58.754′ S 146°15.231′ E, 48 m a.s.l., 21 Oct. 2005 ( QM).

Diagnosis — Posterior dorsal plate with one pair of glandularia. Gonopore of male large, almost as long as genital field.

Description — Male: Idiosoma dorsally 786 long and 437 wide, ventrally 786 long. Camerostome long and anterodorsally indented. Dorsum with two large plates. Anterior dorsal plate 251 long and 284 wide, with four pairs of glandularia. Posterior dorsal plate with one pair of glandularia and the postocularia ( Figure 9A ). Dorsal furrow with four pairs of glandularia. Cxgl-4 close to associated setae, located near suture line Cx-III/IV. Genital field 138 long and 118 wide, with three pairs of elongated acetabula. Genital field lying more or less posterior to Cx-IV ( Figure 9B ). Gonopore 130 long and 60 wide. Length of P1-5: -, 74, 30, 62, 27 ( Figure 9C ). Length of I-leg-4-6: 106, 118, 120. Length of IV-leg-4-6: 144, 154, 148 (till tip of segment). IV-leg-6 as described for female. Legs without swimming setae.

Female: Idiosoma dorsally 761 long and 429 wide, ventrally 761 long. Camerostome long and anterodorsally indented. Anterior dorsal plate 267 long and 296 wide, posterior dorsal plate 316 long and 324 wide. Configuration of dorsal glandularia as in male. Cxgl-4 close to associated setae, located near suture line Cx-III/IV. Genital field lying more or less posterior to Cx-IV ( Figure 9E ), 144 long and 130 wide. Length of P1-5: 12, 70, 46, 62, 26. Length of I-leg-4-6: 94, 114, 140 (till tip of segment). Length of IV-leg-4-6: 112, 134, 140 (till tip of segment). IV-leg-6 with a small subterminal seta and six stout setae ( Fig. 9F ). Legs without swimming setae.

Etymology — Named for its occurrence in the Paluma Range. The name is a noun in apposition.

Remarks — The new species differs from all Australian Tubophorella species in the presence of only one pair of glandularia on the posterior dorsal plate. Australian Tubophorella species differs from those of the New World in the absence of a ventral seta of P2.

Figures

Figure 9 Tubophorella paluma sp. nov., A-D – holotype male, E-F – paratype female. A – dorsum; B – venter; C = P2-P5; D – IV-leg-6; E – venter; F – IV-leg-6. Scale bars: A-B, E = 100 µm, C-D, F = 50 µm.