Fessonia schneideri ( Oudemans, 1941 ) Oudemans, 1941

Zhang, Zhi-Qiang, 2003, Taxonomic status of Ve i t h i a Oudemans, 1941 and redescriptions of two species described by Oudemans (Acari: Smarididae), Zootaxa 145, pp. 1-8 : 3-5

Fessonia schneideri ( Oudemans, 1941) comb. nov.

( Figs 1­3 )

Veithia schneideri Oudemans, 1941: 182 ; van Eyndhoven 1943: 45 & 52.

Type material examined: “Rottende bladen, San Remo, III 1900, Prof. Oskar Schneider legit”. One female specimen was mounted in the slide, which is in relatively good condition, but uncleared body contents obscure mid dorsum and venter ( Fig. 3 ).

Female. Idiosoma 625 mm long from tip of naso to posterior end of opisthosoma, 225 mm wide near posterior propodosoma. Crista metopica extending to mid-idiosoma. Anterior sensillary area located posteromediad of two pairs of eyes (220 mm from tip of proposoma), with a single seta (20 mm long) in addition to trichobothria v 1. Trichobothria v 1 ciliated (not shown by Oudemans’ drawing); setal length ca 25 mm long; their bases 10 mm apart. Posterior sensilla obscured by uncleared body content. Two pairs of eyes of unequal size; anterior eyes 22 mm in diameter, posterior eyes 20 mm, located slightly posterolaterad of anterior eyes. Prodorsal setae clavate-oval, blunt distally; 20-30 mm long, 7-9 mm wide; their tectum with 4-6 columns and ca 10 rows of spicules ( Fig. 1 ). Hysterosomal dorsal setae similar to prodorsal setae, but slightly longer.

Ventral setae slightly smaller than dorsal setae. Genital pore 100 mm long, located between coxae IV. Genital valves each with a row of nude setae (15-16 mm long) and spiculed broad setae similar to ventral setae. Anus obscured by ventral setae.

Legs (coxae to tibiae) covered with spiculed setae similar to body setae, but setae becoming more pointed and shorter in more distal segments.

Measurements of lengths of leg I: coxa 130 m, trochanter 80 m, basifemur 175 m, telofemur 183 m, genu 255 m, tibia 232 m, tarsus 150 m.

Measurements of lengths of leg II: coxa 108 m, trochanter 65 m, basifemur 70 m, telofemur 100 m, genu 140 m, tibia 145 m, tarsus 100 m.

Measurements of lengths of leg III: coxa 85 m, trochanter 60 m, basifemur 80 m, telofemur 110 m, genu 145 m, tibia 145 m, tarsus 103 m.

Measurements of lengths of leg IV: coxa 200 m, trochanter 75 m, basifemur 125 m, telofemur 155 m, genu 200 m, tibia 206 m, tarsus 135 m.

Gnathosoma. Chelicerae ca 500 m long. Palpal setae pointed, as for leg setae; palptarsus 15 m long, just reaching tip of tibial claw (14 m long). Palptarsus with 3 eupathidia () and numerous normal setae. Palptibia 30 m long (excluding claw), with 5­ 6 setae. Palpgenu 40 m long, with 7­8 setae. Palpfemur 80 m long, 6 setae. Palptrochanter 18 m long.

Remarks. This species looks similar to the European species F. callitricha ( Grandjean, 1947) , but can be easily separated from it by having only a single normal seta in anterior sensillary area (3 setae in F. callitricha ).

Oudemans’ original drawings ( Figs 1 and 4 ) are acceptable, although some details are omitted. The seta in the anterior sensillary area is not indicated and trichobothria v 1 are shown nude.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Fessonia schneideri (Oudemans, 1941). Original drawing by Oudemans.

FIGURE 2. Fessonia schneideri (Oudemans, 1941) Handwritten notes by Oudemans.

FIGURE 3. Fessonia schneideri (Oudemans, FIGURE 6. Fessonia assmuthi (Oudemans, 1941) 1941) Habitus (dorsal view). Habitus (dorsal view).

FIGURE 4. Fessonia assmuthi (Oudemans, 1941). Original drawing by Oudemans.