Amblypalpus Mitrofanov and Strunkova, 1978

Farzan, Sadegh, Asadi, Mahdieh, Ueckermann, Edward A., Seeman, Owen D. & Beard, Jennifer J., 2013, A review of Amblypalpus and Priscapalpus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), including two new species of Amblypalpus from Iran, Zootaxa 3716 (1), pp. 53-64 : 55

Amblypalpus Mitrofanov and Strunkova, 1978

Type species: Amblypalpus narsikulovi Mitrofanov and Strunkova, 1978: 1097 , by monotypy.

Note. The type specimen is not in the collection of Nikita Botanical Gardens and is likely inaccessible in the collection of Strunkova (A. Khaustov, pers. comm.).

Diagnosis. Palps 3-segmented; palp tarsus with 1–2 terminal phaneres; anterior margin of prodorsum with broad flat projection extending medially and laterally over base of coxa I, or projection absent; opisthosoma with 7–8 pairs of setae (c2, d2, e2, f2, absent; c1, f3 present or absent); dorsal setae fine; leg cuticle not heavily sculptured; genital and ventral shield weakly developed, or not at all defined; metapodal shields absent; 2 pairs of ps setae, anal plate poorly defined, setae ps1 not on tubercle, ps1 – 2 inserted longitudinally on anal plates; tibia I–II with 5 setae; tarsal claws uncinate, empodia pad-like. Spermatheca with at least 1 subterminal bulb.

Remarks. Our expanded concept of Amblypalpus is tentative as no single synapomorphy defines the genus, but instead is defined by a combination of features. Phylogenetic work is necessary to examine broader relationships, but we note that many features (e.g., reduced palpal segments, loss of setae) are regressive. Therefore these mites may represent simplified forms of other brevipalpine and, perhaps, also tenuipalpine genera. Among the brevipalpine genera, they resemble Terminalichus most in having a three-segmented palp and weakly developed ventral and genital shields (Beard et al. 2013). Of the tenuipalpine-like genera, they resemble the Ultratenuipalpus quadrisetosus group by sharing the oval body shape and two pairs of ps setae (Beard et al. 2013), but differ by having weakly developed ventral and genital plates, fine dorsal setae and three palpal segments instead of four (although U. aberrans may have just three).