Pterygosoma angolae Jack, 1962

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 51

Pterygosoma angolae Jack, 1962 ( Fig. 40 ) new status

Pterygosoma melanum angolae Jack, 1962: 277 , fig. 13

Type host: Agama planiceps (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: Angola (Congula).

Redescription. FEMALE (based on holotype and 1 paratype from Agama planiceps ). Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 200–205 long; swollen cheliceral part 65–70 long, slender distal part 130–140 long. Fixed cheliceral digit with spinous process, 10 long. Setae dF and dG, 40–60 and 30–50 long, respectively (setae dF always 1.2–1.3 times longer than dG). Palpal tibia with short claw; palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n, 10–15 long. Peritremes about 145 long. Hypostome about 165 long, with smooth rounded apex. Idiosoma 340–430 long and 780–870 wide. Dorsum with about 70 pairs of antero-lateral serrate setae, 20–45 long; 2 pairs of dorso-median slightly serrate setae dm1 and dm2 ( Jack 1962b) and 9–10 pairs of paddle-shaped peripheral setae, about 75 long (in 1 specimen only alveolae discernible). Eyes absent. Venter with fine-pointed setae vm1–vm3. Genital slit situated terminally. Genital series represented by 1 pair of conspicuous thick setae g1. All pseudanal setae rounded and about 15 long. Legs as in agamae group i.e. setae of trochanters I–IV (1–1–1–1), femora I–IV (3–1–1–1), genua I–IV (2–1–1–1), tibiae I–IV (5–3–3–3). All setae on each podomere filiform, except for slightly serrate setae d’FI–IV. Setation of tarsi I−IV as in group B i.e. tarsi: I 12 setae (ft, tc’, tc”, p’, p”, a’, a”, it’, it”, u’, u”, vs’) and solenidion ω1; II 8 setae (tc’, p’, p”, a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’) and ω1; III and IV with 8 setae each (tc’, p’, p”, a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’). Setae tc’ of legs II–IV, a’, a”, u’, u” of legs I–IV and vs’ and vs” of legs I–IV slightly serrate.

MALE. Unknown

Type material (examined). Holotype and 1 female paratype ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.347) from Agama planiceps Peters (Sauria: Agamidae ) ( NHM no. 1936.8.432–448), ANGOLA: Amboim District, April 1934, coll. K. Hashemite.

Type material deposition. All type material deposited in the NHM .

Host and distribution. This species was recorded only from Agama planiceps from Angola [Amboim district, Congula] ( Jack 1962b).

Remarks. This species was originally described as a subspecies of Pterygosoma melanus Hirst, 1917 (= P. melanum Hirst, 1926 ) i.e. Pterygosoma melanum angolae Jack, 1962 ( Jack 1962b) . However, current studies show that P. melanum angolae differs from P. melanus by the size of the idiosoma (340–430 long), the presence of leg setae v’GIII–IV, rounded hypostomal apex and 9–10 pairs of peripheral setae (vs. in P. melanus the idiosoma is 700–825 long, setae v’GIII–IV are absent, the hypostomal apex is flattened and 16–20 pairs of the peripheral setae are present). Thus, I elevate this subspecies to species level.

Figures

FIGURE 40. Pterygosoma angolae Jack, 1962 female. A, idiosoma in dorsal view; B, ventral view (only alveolae of setae vm visible); C, palpal tarsus and tibia in ventral view; D, tarsus IV in lateral view; E, genital area, enlarged.