Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) dawidi, Hugo-Coetzee, Elizabeth A., 2014

Hugo-Coetzee, Elizabeth A., 2014, New Oppiidae (Acari: Oribatida) from the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa, Zootaxa 3884 (6), pp. 533-552 : 538-541

Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) dawidi sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 4 )

Diagnosis. Brachioppiella (B.) dawidi sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Brachioppiella (B.) species by a combination of the following characters: small size; lamellar and translamellar crests on the prodorsum; sensillus fusiform with 9–10 equal-sized branches; interlamellar seta short and thin; hysterosoma, anterior to notogaster and posterior to bothridium, without tubercles; c 2 present as microseta; notogastral seta la situated slightly anterolaterally to seta lm.

Description. Measurements. Length: females (n=2) mean 258 (range 256–260), males (n=5) 259 (249–269). Width: females 130 (129–132), males 129 (116–138). Holotype (female): length 261, width 130. Integument. ( Fig. 3 A, C) Body surface smooth; lateral side of prodorsum between bothridium and Pd II granulated.

Prodorsum ( Fig. 3 A, C). Rostrum rounded; ro (24) inserted dorso-laterally, thickened, lightly barbed, le (21) very lightly barbed, in (13) very thin, smooth, ex (13) similar thickness as le, smooth; medial quadrangular field ( Kok 1967) demarcated by distinct lamellar and translamellar crests, le inserted where lamellar and translamellar crests meet; bothridium with posterior tubercle; ss (52, without branches) fusiform with 9–10 equal-sized branches; interbothridial region with two hooked lines.

Notogaster ( Fig. 3 A, C). Ten pairs of smooth notogastral setae, seta c 2 microseta (2.5), p 1–3 (10–12) shorter than other setae (21–24), seta la inserted very slightly antero-laterally to lm, seta h 3 postero-laterally to lp; lyrifissure ia, im distinct (8), im anterior of h 3.

Epimeral region ( Fig. 3 B). All setae very thin, setae 1c, 3c barbed, longer (13–15) than other smooth setae (4–8); discidium distally triangular.

Anogenital region ( Fig. 3 B). Five pairs of smooth genital setae (5), g 1 on anterior border of genital plate; ag (8) very thin, smooth, anal setae (6) smooth, adanal setae (7) very thin, smooth, ad 2 postero-laterally to iad, ad 1 postanal; iad (11) inverse apoanal.

Legs ( Fig. 4 ). Leg IV (164)> leg I (127)> leg III (121)> leg II (112); leg setation: leg I: 1-5-2(1)-4(2)-20(2), leg II: 1-5-2(1)-4(1)-14(2), leg III: 2-3-1(1)-3(1)-13, leg IV: 1-2-2-3(1)-10; solenidion σ on Ge I–III thick, bluntended; all setae with barbs, except u on Ta I–IV and p on Ta I roughened.

Etymology. This species is named after Prof. Dawid J. Kok, former professor at the University of the Free State, for his major contribution to the knowledge of Oppiidae in South Africa.

Type material. The holotype and seven paratypes were collected in Golden Gate Highlands National Park (28º30’S, 28º37’E) by S. v.d.M. Louw, 16.X.1985, from soil and decomposed plant material. The holotype ( NMB 3435.19.1) and five paratypes ( NMB 3435.19) are deposited in the Acarology collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Two paratypes (NMSA-Aca 20003, Type 4025) are stored in the collection of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Remarks. In addition to B. dawidi sp. nov. three other Brachioppiella (B.) species have both lamellar and translamellar lines (faint or distinct) present, namely B. nasalis ( Evans, 1953) ( Tanzania) , B. periculosa Hammer, 1962 (Neotropical) and B. walkeri ( Hammer, 1968) ( New Zealand). These species differ from each other in the following: body length ( B. dawidi 249–269, B. nasalis 321, B. periculosa 410, B. walkeri 430); position of lamellar setae ( B. dawidi le inserted where lamellar and translamellar crests meet; B. nasalis , B. periculosa , B. walkeri le posterior to translamellar line); the position of notogastral setae la relative to lm ( B. dawidi , B. walkeri la anterolaterally to lm, B. nasalis , B. periculosa la postero-laterally to lm); presence or absence of notogastral setae c 2 ( B. dawidi , B. walkeri present; B. nasalis , B. periculosa absent).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Brachioppiella dawidi sp. nov. A. dorsal view, B. ventral view, C. lateral view (ventral setae not drawn). Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 4. Brachioppiella dawidi sp. nov. A. leg I, right, antiaxial view (trochanter not drawn); B. leg III, right, antiaxial view; C. leg IV, right, antiaxial view. Scale bar: 50 µm.