Rostrozetes (Rostrozetella) decorus, Mahunka, 2006

Mahunka, S., 2006, Oribatid Mites (Acari: Oribatida) From Venezuela, Ii. New Or Rare Species From Montane Forests, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 52 (3), pp. 271-286 : 281-283

Rostrozetes (Rostrozetella) decorus sp. n.

( Figs 25–27 )

Diagnosis: Rostrum wide, apex slightly convex. Lamellae run marginally, having a very short, spiniform outer apex. Rostral and lamellar setae setiform, curved inwards, interlamellar ones spiniform, straight. Sensillus with small rounded head. Dorsosejugal region well penetrating into the interlamellar region medially. Notogastral surface covered by pustules laterally, and alveoli medially. Pteromorphae ornamented by transversal fossae basally and tubercles laterally. Fourteen pairs of spiniform notogastral setae present. Ventral regions ornamented by foveolae of different shapes in varying form. Epimeral setae conspicuously short or minute. Anogenital setal formula: 5–1–2–3.

Material examined: Holotype: Venezuela, Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, seasonal rain forest: 20 April, 2005 – in and around a forest stream litter and soil. Leg. CS. CSUZDI & D. MURÁNYI (B-36). Six paratypes from the same sample; holotype (1690-HO-05) and 5 paratypes (1690-PO-05): HNHM, 1 paratype: MHNG.

Measurements: Length of body: 433–490 µm, width of body: 314–365 µm.

Prodorsum: Rostrum very wide, convex, or slightly waved anteriorly. Ornamented by small and sparse foveolae. Rostral apex bent downwards, beak-like in lateral view ( Fig. 27 ). Lamellae running on the lateral margin, typical for the genus, their surface alveolate. Rostral and lamellar setae ( Fig. 25 ) setiform, narrow, weakly pilose, directed inwards. Interlamellar setae spiniform, mostly straight, distinctly pilose, much shorter than lamellar setae. Sensillus short, directed outwards, with small and sparsely spiculate head. Bothridium simple, cup shaped. Exobothridial setae minute.

Lateral part of podosoma ( Fig. 27 ): Tutorium wide, bifurcate distally, without true cusp. Rostral seta short, located far anteriorly from the tutorium. Pedotectum 1 small, hardly covering the acetabulum of leg I. Discidium broad, with sharply pointed posterior end. Circumpedal carina present.

Notogaster: Dorsosejugal suture with a peculiar median part, which penetrates into the interlamellar region. Pteromorphae very large, tongue-shaped, with some fossae and rugae in their basal part, and distinctly granulate or pustulate in the lateral part ( Fig. 25 ). Notogastral surface without depression or hollows, foveolate anteriorly and tuberculate posteriorly. Fourteen pairs of notogastral setae, all spiniform and distinctly pilose.

Ventral regions ( Fig. 26 ): Infracapitulum large, its anterior margin convex. Setae h, arising anteriorly. The shape of apodemes and epimeral borders typical for this genus, three complete transversal bands (bo. 2, bo. sej. and bo. 3), bo. 4 narrower than the others. Between them a wide longitudinal connection. Epimeral surface nearly smooth. Epimeral setal formula: 3–1–3–3, all setae short, hardly observable. Ventral plate distinctly foveolate. All genital setae short and smooth, anterior setae slightly longer than the others. Anogenital setal formula: 5–1–2–3, aggenital setae minute, seate ad 1 and ad 2 located in postanal position, ad 1 the longest of all. Lyrifissure iad short, in adanal position.

Legs: Typical for the genus, all femora with blade-like formation, their surface partly foveolate.

Remarks: Not a variable species ( BECK 1965). The peculiar sculpture on the body, length and form of the prodorsal and notogastral setae and the form of the dorsosejugal suture are constant. These characters well distinguish the species and R. (Rostrozetella) schalleri BECK, 1965 , (comb. n.) belonging also to this subgenus, from the other Rostrozetes (Rostrozetes) species.

Etymology: Named for the sculpture of the notogaster and the pteromorphae.

Figures

Figs 25–27. Rostrozetes (Rostrozetella) decorus sp. n.: 25 = body in dorsal view, 26 = body in ventral view, 27 = lateral part of the podosoma in lateral view