Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis ( Kunst, 1977 )

Xu, Shu-Jing, Liu, Cheng-Lin & Chen, Jun, 2024, Taxonomic contribution to the knowledge of the genus Indoribates and Lauritzenia (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae), with description of a new species from China, Zootaxa 5556 (1), pp. 84-96 : 91-92

Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis ( Kunst, 1977) . New record to China

Haplozetes vindobonensis curtipilis Kunst, 1977: 185 , figs 1–2.

Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis ( Kunst, 1977) : Subías 2004: 208.

Haplozetes ulykpani Bayartogtokh & Aoki, 1998: 123 , figs 5–7; Bayartogtokh 2000: 19, figs 29–40. syn. nov.

Material examined. Two specimens (one female and one male on permanent slides, CXF-17-167): China, Inner Mongolia, Alxa Zuoqi, Bayanhot Town, near the Helan Mountain South Temple, 38°40′58″N, 105°46′46″E, ca. 1850 m a.s.l., litter under the bush, 27.VIII.2017 ; seventeen specimens (eleven females and six males on permanent slides, CXF-17-128): China, Gansu, Baiyin, Jingtai County, Shoulu Mountain National Forest Park , 37°08′15″N, 103°44′43″E, ca. 2610 m a.s.l., litter under Picea crassifolia , 20.VIII.2017 ; three specimens (one female and two males on permanent slides, CXF-17-130): same locality as “CXF-17-128”, 37°08′16″N, 103°44′46″E, ca. 2620 m a.s.l., litter in the grass, 20.VIII.2017 ; twelve specimens (seven females and five males, in alcohol, LR-17-023): China, Tibet, Bayi District, G318 National Highway , 29°48′55″N, 94°44′32″E, ca. 3140 m a.s.l., litter under bamboo forest, 30.VII.2017 ; six specimens (four female and two males in alcohol, LR-17-026): same locality as “LR-17- 023”, 29°48′53″N, 94°44′32″E, ca. 3140 m a.s.l., litter under Populus sp. , 30.VII.2017 ; one female (on permanent slide, LR-17-153): China, Tibet, Bayi District, near 4145 km milestone locality on China National Highway 318, 29°50′17″N, 94°44′43″E, ca. 3080 m a.s.l., litter under bamboo forest, 18.VIII.2017 .

Distribution. China (Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Tibet), Czech, Slovakia, Mongolia.

Remarks. This species is very similar to Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis ( Willmann, 1935) . The main difference between them is the length of interlamellar setae. From the dorsal view, the interlamellar setae of I. (H.) vindobonensis extend beyond the lamellar end, appearing longer than lamellar setae. The interlamellar setae of I. (H.) vindobonensis curtipilis do not extend beyond the lamellar end, the interlamellar setae appearing similar to lamellar setae in length.

Indoribates (Haplozetes) ulykpani ( Bayartogtokh & Aoki, 1998) was described by Bayartogtokh & Aoki (1998) as a new species; however, we propose that it should be a synonym of I. (H.) vindobonensis curtipilis . The conclusion is based on a comparative morphological analysis of the two species, which reveals that the main difference is that the interlamellar setae of I. (H.) ulykpani do not extend beyond the lamellar end, making them appear shorter than lamellar setae and interlamellar setae of I. (H.) vindobonensis curtipilis . However, from the lateral view, the interlamellar setae of I. (H.) ulykpani are similar to lamellar setae ( Bayartogtokh 2000). After examining the specimens of I. (H.) vindobonensis curtipilis in IZAS, we found that the interlamellar setae are often perpendicular to the prodorsum. When the prodorsum is strongly tilted downward, the interlamellar setae appear similar in length to the lamellar setae from the dorsal view, and the rostral setae appear posterior to the lamellar setae. However, if the prodorsum is not tilted downward, the interlamellar setae appear shorter than lamellar setae, and the rostral setae appear anterior to the lamellar setae.

Thus, in the illustration of I. (H.) vindobonensis curtipilis , the prodorsum is tilted downward, resulting the interlamellar setae similar in length to lamellar setae, like I. (H.) ulykpani . Bayartogtokh and Aoki (1998) also stated that I. (H.) ulykpani differs from I. (H.) vindobonensis by having relatively long rostral setae, with the bothridium only partially covered posteriorly by the anterior margin of notogaster, and with lamellae positioned more medially. However, in both I. (H.) vindobonensis curtipilis and I. (H.) ulykpani , the rostral setae are similar to or slightly shorter than the lamellar setae, and in both, the bothridia are only partially covered posteriorly by the anterior margin of notogaster. Regarding the position of lamellae, we think this may be due to the illustration in dorsal view, which includes the pedotectum I, causing the lamellae to appear medially, and this character was not definitely described in the description. Therefore, we subjectively consider Haplozetes ulykpani to be a junior synonym of Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis ( Kunst, 1977) : Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis ( Kunst, 1977) (= Haplozetes ulykpani Bayartogtokh & Aoki, 1998 syn. nov.)

There are some variations among the specimens we examined. Most specimens have five pairs of genital setae, one pair of aggenital setae; bothridial setae are typically clavate, with their ends often being blunt. However, occasionally five genital setae on one side and four setae on the other side, a specimen with two pairs of aggenital setae, and sometimes the ends of bothridial setae are somewhat pointed, even in one specimen.